Economy measures introduced by the Murcian Health Service to combat its spiraling debt mean that doctors will no longer prescribe brand names and chemists will dispense the cheapest version of the medicine.
The change, introduced in May, has already affected 20,000 patients in 20 health centres and logged a saving of some 400,000 euros. The scheme is being rolled out throughout the region of Murcia and is expected to be fully functional in all health centres by the end of June.
The object of the exercise is that doctors prescribe the “active ingredient” of the medicine rather than a concrete commercial brand in a move which is expected to save the health service some 1.5 million euros a month.
Currently five drug components are affected: two very common anti depressants (escitalopram and enlafaxina); a gastric protector (esomeprazol); a medicine for high cholesterol (atorvastatina; and a treatment for hypertension (valsartán).
Participating medical centres have distributed an explanatory letter to patients and the regional health service has distributed a leaflet with the motto: “Generic medicines: the same for your health and better for everyone’s pockets.”
