Country

Strengths

Weaknesses

Denmark

-The RPS and generics substitution by pharmacists reward generics companies that set competitive prices for an active substance with high sales

-Physicians tend to have a favourable attitude towards generics substitution by pharmacists and face non-financial incentives to prescribe generics

-Strong price competition and low prices could endanger the long-term sustainability of the generics industry

Germany

-Market entry of generics benefits from an RPS that sets higher RPs in medicine groups with fewer generics competitors and that stimulates price competition, but still makes it possible for generics companies to earn profits

-Demand for generics is driven by generics substitution by pharmacists and by physician budgets in combination with prescription targets and feedback on prescribing behaviour

-Pharmacists are financially penalised for dispensing generics

The Netherlands

-The financial attractiveness of generics substitution by pharmacists sustains generics use

-The generics market is driven by the lower prices of generics

-A range of financial and non-financial incentives for physicians support generics prescribing

-Health insurance funds have agreed [to] generics substitution target rates in consultation with pharmacists

-Patients have few incentives to buy generics

Poland

-The economic viability of the generics market originates from low prices and high volume of consumption

-Setting the RP at the level of the cheapest medicine has led to low prices of generics

-The high volume of consumption derives from the positive experience of physicians with generics and the high level of patient co-payments

-Physicians have no incentives to prescribe generics

-Pharmacists are financially penalised for dispensing generics

United Kingdom

-Generics companies compete with each other on price, enabling the NHS to capture the cost-saving potential of generics

-Medical students are taught to prescribe by INN and INN prescribing by physicians is common practice

-Generics prescribing has been stimulated by setting physician budgets in combination with generics prescribing targets, incentive schemes, and prescribing guidelines

-Patients have no incentives to buy generics