Healthy Skepticism Library item: 8516
Warning: This library includes all items relevant to health product marketing that we are aware of regardless of quality. Often we do not agree with all or part of the contents.
Publication type: Journal Article
Geitona M, Zavras D, Hatzikou M, Kyriopoulos J.
Generics market in Greece: the pharmaceutical industry's beliefs.
Health Policy 2006 Nov; 79:(1):35-48
http://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0168-8510(05)00266-6
Abstract:
The aim of this study was to investigate the beliefs and perspectives of the pharmaceutical industry on generic medication in Greece. Questionnaires were mailed to all 58 members of the Hellenic Association of Pharmaceutical Companies from November 2002 to February 2003. The response rate was 52%, namely 30 questionnaires were completed and returned. The questionnaire requested information on companies’ involvement in generics, their opinion on generics’ characteristics and on public policies affecting the demand and supply of generic medication. A descriptive analysis of the outcomes, that is percentage comparison through binomial tests and Fisher tests, was performed. According to our findings, 43% of the respondents were involved in the production and distribution of generics and the mean period of their involvement was 12 years. The majority of the respondents were in favor of their companies’ involvement in generics, despite the relatively small market share of generics in Greece; 9.7% of total pharmaceutical market in 2003. Bearing in mind that in Greece the promotion of generics is not encouraged, pharmaceutical companies believe that the mandatory introduction of bioequivalence studies is an indirect promotional strategy towards generics. Additionally, the majority declared that their main competitive advantages are their safety, efficacy and effectiveness as well as their economic benefit to the society. Finally, the respondents expressed their preference for the introduction of pharmacoeconomic submissions for drugs’ reimbursement by social insurance funds.
Keywords:
MeSH Terms:
Administrative Personnel/psychology*
Advertising
Attitude of Health Personnel*
Cost Control
Cost-Benefit Analysis
Drug Costs
Drug Industry/organization & administration*
Drug Information Services
Drug Utilization/statistics & numerical data
Drug and Narcotic Control
Drugs, Generic*/economics
Drugs, Generic*/standards
Drugs, Generic*/therapeutic use
Economic Competition
Government Regulation
Greece
Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
Humans
Marketing
National Health Programs/organization & administration
Negativism
Patient Education
Prescriptions, Drug/statistics & numerical data
Questionnaires
Reimbursement Mechanisms
Safety
Societies, Pharmaceutical
Therapeutic Equivalency
Substances:
Drugs, Generic
