The regional College of Doctors has roundly rejected regional plans to oblige GP’s and chemists to prescribe cheaper drugs rather than the more costly brand names.
Announcing they will “never accept coercive measures that suggest we are responsible for the problem,” the College spokesperson claim the GP is the person who has all the information about the “active element” and the brand name it is therefore unnecessary to introduce more bureaucracy.
Under the new protocol GPs may prescribe a brand name drug where “they consider it necessary” however, this would be “the exception rather than the rule.” Instead, doctors are required to prescribe the “active element” of a drug (such as paracetamol or ibrufen), and not the brand name. Chemists are also required to fill prescriptions with the cheapest “active element” available and to dispense the exact dosage.
The three drugs specifically named in this protocol are the antidepressants, escitalopram and venlafaxina, and atorvastatina prescribed for cholesterol.
The College of Doctors has declared its members will continue to “prescribe according to the scientific evidence”. He added that the College “any supported measures aimed at preventing bad practice.”
