The position paper of Farmindustria: “They must not be promoted for economic reasons. Guarantee the prescribing freedom of the doctor”
THE POSITION OF PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES
Even Farmindustria thus aligns itself with the position already expressed by AIFA in its "second position paper on biosimilar drugs". The information on the choice of therapy, on the relative risks and benefits must be "clear and complete". For these reasons "it is important that the prescribing freedom of the doctor is guaranteed in a uniform way throughout the national territory". In any case, biosimilars are defined as "an opportunity for the NHS" since they make it possible to "reduce the financial burdens borne by the System" (... continue on dailyhealthcare.it of 11 October 2018)
Interchangeability, ie the possibility of switching from one drug to another during therapy, between the originator and the related biosimilar and vice versa, must not be promoted for reasons of an economic nature to the point of becoming binding for doctors. The latter are the only ones able to evaluate the best therapeutic approach in the interest of the individual patient - with particular attention to those already in treatment - on the basis of solid clinical evidence.
Information on the choice of therapy, its risks and benefits must be clear and complete. In fact, it constitutes a fundamental element in the communication between doctor and patient, for his/her involvement in the treatment process.
