In line with the recent trend to reduce medical expenses, the effectiveness and utility of using generic drug substitutes are being evaluated in both European nations and the United States. In contrast, such drugs are used far less in Japan than in foreign countries.
Therefore, we conducted a survey and analyzed the use of generic medicines as drug substitutes among 99 general practitioners in Tochigi prefecture. Consequently, 58% of these medical institutions used generic medicines. On the other hand, 30% of medical institutions would not even consider introducing generic medicines. The most frequent response was “there are problems in the quality of such medicine.” Other responses, including “it isn't a brand item” and “we worry about losing patients”. Regarding adoption conditions, many responses such as “to be able to prove equality with brand item” or “they are seldom used at medical institutions” were common responses.
Generic medicine will gain further acceptance under the following conditions : (1) the quality must be maintained and (2) the stability of supply and provision of information must be improved. Furthermore, the use of generic medicines will increase if the patients desire to reduce financial burden and to choose their medicines by accelerating the inclusion of the whole health care expenditures promoted in health care system.
“Prohibition of substitute medicine” accounted for 38% of responses ; however 58% of respondents hinted that patients and pharmacists were willing to try them. The present situation does not differentiate substitute medicines from brand items regarding medicine approved by law. Moreover, the promotion of substitute medicines is not only a legal issue, but also involves environmental considerations.
Our findings suggest that generic medicines should be promoted to reduce increasing medical expenses.