Abstract

A decision to dispense the cheaper generic drugs is one that pharmacists confront every day. The price to the patient and profitability must be balanced. There are government pressures to contain expenditure. The main consideration must be the patients ’ health and welfare, although pharmacists make a larger profit on the generics, and patients save marginally. With different classes of drugs, such as painkillers substitution may be appropriate. In areas such as antiepileptics, switching can present problems. The proof for drugs to be accepted as generically equivalent is not comparable to the proof of safety and efficacy require