title: Societal value of generic medicines beyond cost-saving through reduced prices.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This paper aims to provide an overview of the added societal value of generic medicines beyond their cost-saving potential through reduced prices. In addition, an observational case study will document the impact of generic entry on access to pharmacotherapy in The Netherlands and an illustrative exercise was carried out to highlight the budget impact of generic entry.
  
  
  METHODS
  A narrative literature review was carried out to explore the impact of generic medicines on access to pharmacotherapy, innovation and medication adherence. Data from the Medicines and Medical Devices Information Project database in The Netherlands were used for the case study in which the impact of generic medicine entrance on the budget and the number of users was calculated as an illustrative exercise.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Generic medicines have an additional societal value beyond their cost-saving potential through reduced prices. Generic medicines increase access to pharmacotherapy, provide a stimulus for innovation by both originator companies and generic companies and, under the right circumstances, have a positive impact on medication adherence.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Generic medicines offer more to society than just their cost-saving potential through reduced prices. As such, governments must not focus only on the prices of generic medicines as this will threaten their long-term sustainability. Governments must therefore act appropriately and implement a coherent set of policies to increase the use of generic medicines.
authors.affiliation: KU Leuven Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, 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: D003132:Commerce / Q000191:economics*; D017046:Cost Savings; D016527:Drug Costs; D016568:Drugs, Generic / Q000191:economics* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006291:Health Policy / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D007880:Legislation, Drug; D055118:Medication Adherence; D009426:Netherlands
chemical_list: D016568:Drugs, Generic
keywords: access; adherence; generic medicines; innovation; value