Which is better: generics or brand-name medication?

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.