Buying Guide to Generic Medicines
Generic sales as percentage of total volume.
Accounting for nearly 80% of treatment costs, many patients around the world are turning to generic medicines as a way of lowering their healthcare spend. However, with so many generic brands on the market, some of which are highly reputable and others that remain questionable, many are confused about which generics to trust.
Since there is no foolproof system to differentiate quality medications from those that are questionable, We have created the MAPS guidance to find high-quality generic medicines that could offer healthy cost savings.
MANUFACTURER
Researching the reputation of the manufacturer is the first step in assessing the trustworthiness of a generic medicine. Reputable generics brands follow strict quality control standards to ensure their products meet or exceed regulatory requirements.
Indeed, knowing which generic brands follow good manufacturing practices is often difficult. However, a generics manufacturer’s website provides lots of clues about its reputation. After all, good generics brands not only invest in quality manufacturing, but they also invest in well-presented websites with good information about their business practices, distribution reach and medication portfolio.
TIP: Quickly evaluate a generic medicine by asking the pharmacist how many other medications they stock from the manufacturer. A generics brand that is well-stocked by a pharmacy is considered a good sign.
APPERANCE
As simple as it sounds, higher quality medications tend to have more professional looking packaging. In addition, many generics brands purposely harmonise their packaging design across their portfolio of medications as a way of helping patients easily identify their products once trust is established.
Along with design, all packaging should be labelled with a batch ID as well as expiration date … and blisters should be sealed. We understand why many patients buy cut blisters, but the lack of traceability is why it is better for to buy whole packs rather than cut blisters … whether for branded medications or generics.
TIP: Using a smartphone, lookup a medicine’s images online. If the packaging an
PRICE
The most risky way to evaluate a generic medicine is price. Unfortunately, many low-quality generics overprice their products because they do not expect patients to research their business.
On the other hand, extremely low prices could be a red flag. Prices that seem too good to be true could indicate substandard manufacturing processes or even counterfeit products.
TIP: Instead of relying on price, knowing which manufacturers are reputable could help win big savings.
SALES LOCATION
Buying from reputable pharmacies and distributors is one way to improve the likelihood of buying a high-quality generic. In other words, generics sold in chain pharmacies are often, though not always, of more-assured quality.
But what about buying generic medicines from a community pharmacy?
One reason that chain pharmacies are trustworthy is that they have a pharmacist on-site. Put differently, a pharmacist’s professional reputation is at stake if they sell low-quality medications.
TIP: Due to reputation risk, buy generic medications from community pharmacies with a pharmacist, instead of a pharmtech, on-site. It is not foolproof, but it is one more way to reduce your health risk.
CONCLUSION
Be diligent. There is no one foolproof way to identify a quality generic brand, but using the MAPS guidelines is a good way to reduce the risk of buying low-quality and counterfeit medications. It will also help save money!
Be vigilant. Check the packaging for evidence of tampering and to avoid buying expired medication. Too many times, patients receive medicines that are unhealthy or costly.
Above all, remember that generics medicines are not bad. Yet, knowing how to spot a quality generic is the only way to reap the financial rewards.