Family doctors will be obliged, except in particular situations, to specify in the medical prescription the possible existence of an equivalent drug. This would be one of the innovations contained in the new draft of the Decree on liberalization being studied by the Government. «Unless there are therapeutic reasons to the contrary in the specific case» the draft reads «the doctor inserts the following words in each medical prescription: "or equivalent drug if cheaper", or specifies the existence of the equivalent drug». A rule that arouses the reaction of the Fimmg: "It seems absurd to me" is the comment of Giacomo Milillo, secretary of the Fimmg, who expresses his intention to contest the rule "it's a stretch, I'm amazed". "A truly significant step to remove one of the main bottlenecks of healthcare spending" is the opinion of Giorgio Foresti, president of Assogenerici. «As far as we know now» continues Foresti «the text should also contain measures aimed at eliminating possible disputes and delays of various kinds at the time of placing new equivalent drugs on the market. It goes without saying that these are two indispensable elements to ensure that Italy quickly reaches a structure of pharmaceutical consumption similar to that of the rest of Europe».
January 19, 2012 – DoctorNews
Liberalizations: Assogeneric, forcing to say that equivalents are not effective as brands
last update: January 19th, 2.44 pm
Rome, 19 January (Adnkronos/Adnkronos Salute) – "If on the eve of 2012 there is still someone who questions the equivalence between generic drugs and branded drugs, it means that the road is still very long for our sector. If we then support it is the secretary of one of the major family doctors' unions, such statements risk becoming more than anything else psychological terrorism towards patients". Thus Giorgio Foresti, president of Assogenerici, replies to the declarations of the general secretary of Fimmg, Giacomo Milillo, on the first anticipations of the content of the decree on liberalisations.
