title: Analysis of French generic medicines retail market: why the use of generic medicines is limited.
abstract: The market share of generic medicines in France is low compared to other European countries. This perspective paper provides an overview of the generic medicines retail market in France and how the current policy environment may affect the long-term sustainability. Looking at the French generic medicines retail market and the surrounding regulatory framework, all conditions seem to be in place to create a healthy generic medicines market: the country has well-respected regulatory authorities, generic medicines enter the market in a timely manner and prices of generic medicines are competitive compared with other European countries. Despite the success of the demand-side policies targeted at pharmacists and patients, those targeted at physicians were less successful due to a lack of enforcement and a lack of trust in generic medicines by French physicians. Recommendations to increase the use of generic medicines in France round off this perspective paper.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49, O&N 2, P.O. Box 521, 3000 Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Pieter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dylst
authors.forename: Arnold
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vulto
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Simoens
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003157:Community Pharmacy Services / Q000191:economics* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D016527:Drug Costs / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D004335:Drug and Narcotic Control / Q000191:economics; D016568:Drugs, Generic / Q000191:economics* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005602:France; D033161:Government Regulation; D005102:Health Expenditures; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000191:economics; D006801:Humans; D007349:Insurance, Health, Reimbursement / Q000191:economics; D008389:Marketing of Health Services / Q000191:economics* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D020380:Needs Assessment / Q000191:economics; D011050:Policy Making; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000191:economics* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence
chemical_list: D016568:Drugs, Generic
keywords: France; demand-side policies; generic medicines; pharmaceuticals; pricing; reimbursement