Pharmacoeconomic evidence and policies to promote use of generic medicines in Jordan

Background Generic drugs are considered the best alternative for the high cost originator brand drugs as they have the same quality, safety, and efficacy at reduced cost. Objectives The objective of this study is to encourage patients and health care providers to use generic medicines in Jordan by providing a pharmacoeconomic evidence for the expected savings of using generic medicines instead of originator medicines. Furthermore, this study insists on the importance of, and the need for, adaptation of Pharmacoeconomic analysis to the situation in Jordan, and explores how to promote greater prescribing of generic drugs for patients with chronic diseases. Methods Thirty-seven Active ingredients from different therapeutic classes were included according to predefined inclusion/exclusion criteria; drugs used for chronic diseases were included whereas controlled drugs or sustained release or combination or parenteral drugs were excluded. The prices of originator drugs and all available generics were collected. As we are comparing brands with generics, cost minimisation analysis was used to show “cost savings” of one treatment over another that achieve the same level of benefit at reduced cost. Moreover, policy recommendations to encourage the use of generics were suggested. Results The average price saving from using average price generics available instead of originator drugs in Jordan was 32.68%, the maximum saving 74.29%, more saving could be achieved if we used the lowest available generics instead of average available generics price. Conclusions This article insists on the importance of promoting the use of generics in Jordan by providing a pharmacoeconomic evidence and applicable simple policy recommendations, such as changing pharmacy remuneration, introduction of generic prescribing and allowing generic substitution, implementing of alternative product list with prices, activating electronic prescribing and providing education and awareness programs targeting health providers and publics.