Generic drug brands allowed in prescriptions
Doctors are now being allowed to recommend specific generic drugs when they issue prescriptions, in what the government says is a move designed to increase the use of this form of medicines in Greece.
“This is an indirect boost for generic drugs,” said Health Minister Panayiotis Kouroublis after it was revealed that doctors can refer to the brand name of the generic drug in their prescriptions rather than just the active ingredient.
Generic drugs account for around 20 percent of medicines sold in Greece, which is much lower than many other European Union countries.
Kouroublis said he is considering lowering the share of the cost of such drugs that must be paid by patients from 25 percent to 15 percent to encourage their greater use.
