Why doctors need to prescribe more generic drugs to patients

When fighting a certain illness, what kind of medicine are you going to buy? Will you go for a branded one? Will you go for the cheaper generic alternative?

There are many rumors about generic medicines. Some people claim that they are ineffective while others say that they work just as fine as the branded medicines. What is the real truth behind this?

According to Medical Xpress, the American College of Physicians (ACP) suggests that every single clinician out there should prescribe generic medicines to the patients whenever possible. This is because it is a method that works effectively in terms of improving therapy adherence and health outcomes while helping patients to cut medicine costs.

ACP President Wayne J. Riley, MD, MPH, MBA, MACP said that while it is true that the use of generic medicines is increasing, it is still an undeniable fact that most doctors choose to prescribe branded medicines even when a cheaper yet equally effective generic alternatives are available.

In fact, ACP reviewed the case of Medicare patients with diabetes. As much as 45 percent of all prescriptions are for branded medicines even when there is an available generic alternative. If doctors and patients choose the generic drugs, Medicare could save as much as $1.4 billion.

She also pointed out that generic drugs are highly important simply because they serve as High Value Care way. Why? It is because the generic drug is dedicated for the improvement of health, avoidance of harms and elimination of wasteful practices.

Among the few reasons why some patients adhere to the expensive branded prescriptions of the doctor even when a cheaper alternative is available are their fears and beliefs that generic drugs are less effective and less efficient compared to the branded ones.

According to Reuters, Dr. Amir Qaseem, one of the co-authors of American College of Physician's recommendation, said that this thinking is wrong. Generic drugs are as effective and as efficient as its more expensive counterpart. In fact, the US Food and Drug Administration even released a report saying that once a generic drug has been approved, it means that it performs the same as its branded medicine.

Qaseem also pointed out the fact that because generic medicines are much cheaper than the branded ones, it is much easier for patients to afford it. This is why prescribing generic drugs gets patients to fill those prescriptions more.

Check the video below to understand why branded medicines are more expensive than the generic drugs.