Are generics the future of South African medicine?

The popularity of generic medication has been on the rise in South Africa for several years, following trends in the UK and US. Though South Africa still lags far behind these countries, the potential for improvement cannot be underestimated, with up to R4 billion in potential savings if newer generics are widely adopted. This is according to Vivian Frittelli, CEO of the National Association of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers (NAPM) which represents the interests of generic medicine manufacturers and marketers in SA, the mission of which is to champion greater access to medicine for the SA population.

Frittelli goes on to claim that many doctors and patients perceive generics to be inferior to brand-name medication due to its lower price, often being substantially cheaper than the original. This perception needs to change if South Africa is to realise the desperately-needed savings mentioned above.

The marketing of drugs, however restricted, is often to blame here as it seeks to reinforce the perception of generics being inferior. “I worked for an originator company for 20-odd years and one of our messages was this: if your kid had meningitis, would you use generics?” says Frittelli.