Plans for generic substitution of medicine abandoned

15 October 2010

PLANS to allow pharmacists to substitute branded drugs with generics have been abandoned by the government.

Health Minister Lord Howe said cost-saving proposals that would give dispensers the right to overrule some GP prescriptions for branded drugs and replace them with cheaper alternatives would not go ahead in England.

He said the government would look at other ways of increasing the use of generic medicines "where it is appropriate and safe" and said plans to force the use of more generics was "too prescriptive".

It was also unclear, the minister said, whether the proposals would have provided substantial benefit to the NHS to justify the effort required by staff to implement them.

The Department of Health statement said: "In the light of the public consultation findings, the DH will not be progressing any further the implementation of generic substitution. Instead the DH will be looking at further ways to support the use of generic medicines in a way that is acceptable to patients, recognising that there are still some savings that can potentially be delivered in this area."