The Medicines Authority has recently introduced a number of new generic products on the market, cheaper than their brand-name counterparts.
Addressing a press conference this morning in Zabbar, Consumer Affairs Minster Helena Dalli and Professor Anthony Serracino Inglott from the Medicines Authority announced the 27 new products.
Among these products are Allopurinol Teva 300mg tablets x28, which cost €5.95 and are used for Gout prevention, Esomeprazole Zentiva 20mg gastro-resistant capsules x14, which cost €6.97 and reduce the amount of acid in the stomach, as well as Aclexia 200mg hard capsules x30, which cost €19.92 and offers relief of signs and symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis.
The new medicines are either now readily available or will be available as of October 1st.
Minister Dalli explained that the aim is to provide the best possible price for medicines which people need. She said that since the Authority is now self-sufficient, it is no longer a burden on taxes paid for by the citizens.
Professor Serracino Inglott said that these additions allow for options, where doctors can either prescribe these, or their brand named counterparts. He said that the generic medicines are of good quality.
“One must understand that when a pharmacy sells a generic medicine they receive less cash as they are cheaper, so when a pharmacist suggests such a medication, they are doing so in order to help the patient and not for profit”.
According to EU regulations, for one to assure that the receipts given by doctors be honoured one must dispense that medicine. He said however, that doctors are beginning to prescribe generic medicines. He urged communication between pharmacists, doctors and the patients regarding this.
In order for a generic product to be sold on the market, they must be sold in the same form but also be bio-equivalent. “When one takes the pill, it must be absorbed, not only in the same quantity, but in the same way as its brand’s counterpart”. He said that there are some differences where, for example, one would include sugar and the other wouldn't.
