[Usefulness of prescription of generic drugs for cost containment in pharmaceutics. Analysis in the Community of Navarra]. / Utilidad de la prescripción de genéricos en la contención del gasto en prestación farmacéutica. Análisis en la Comunidad Foral de Navarra.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of the use of generics drugs on the costs of pharmaceutical prescription, in order to help decide on their use. DESIGN: Descriptive study. SETTING: Prescriptions from all the doctors in the Health Service of Navarra-Osasunbidea. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Pharmaceutical products with over 5,000 containers consumed during 1994 in Navarra, and with a generic drug which had the same presentation, were selected. The cheapest generics drug was chosen and the hypothetical saving over the brand-name drug was calculated. None of the 285 products in most common use were generics. Use of generics instead of brand drugs would have saved 109,748,344 pesetas. Use of generics drugs instead of commercial products would reduce cost for the drugs studied by 21%. This saving would mean a 1.2% decrease in the overall cost of pharmaceutical prescription. CONCLUSIONS: Although generics drugs are not readily available, their use would decrease the cost of pharmaceutical prescription, with results comparable to those obtained from negotiation with the industry and pharmacists' representatives. The effect would be more long-lasting, as it would mean a change in doctors' prescription habits.