title: Brand names, generic prescribing, and generic substitution.
abstract: The terms "generic prescribing" and "generic substitution", and some related terms, are defined. The history of laws concerning these matters is referred to, and the Australian situation is briefly outlined. The arguments for and against generic prescribing and generic substitution are canvassed.
mesh_terms: D001315:Australia; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D004345:Drug Industry; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D007880:Legislation, Drug; D009626:Terminology as Topic; D013810:Therapeutic Equivalency