The proposals of an increase to make generic medicines in primary care cheaper have been set out of England.
Generic Medicines are less cost effective than a branded equivalent and the Department of health is keen to use them.
Many suggestions contain establishing a list of products for replacement and another list of items that would be excused.
The proposals will be made known for public consultation over the next 3 months. The NHS spends around £9bn a year on branded prescription medicines in the UK.
A 5 year voluntary agreement negotiated between government and the pharmaceutical industry last year, includes measures aimed at reducing NHS expenses on branded medicines by an average of 5% a year over the lifetime of the plan.
Generic medicines - which have to include the same active ingredient as the branded originals, and can be sold once the originator’s patent protection has expired - can save substantial costs.
Currently, around 83% of prescriptions issued by the NHS are for generic drugs, but ministers want this to rise by around 5%.
