[Generic drugs and the rights of substitution]

Compared with other countries with a similar socio-economic environment, generic drugs account for a very small proportion of pharmaceutical sales in France. The recently promulgated law on financing the national healthcare system states that drug dispensers have the right to substitute generic drugs for prescription drugs in accordance with the drug equivalence repertoire established by the national drug agency. How patients, pharmacists, physicians and industrial firms will react to this new situation is an open question as use of generic drugs is basically unknown in France. Prescribing physicians, members of the drug agency, pharmacists, health economists, and insurance company and pharmaceutical firm representatives participated in a round table discussion to clarify the ongoing debate on the effect of this new cultural situation which calls an end to the French "exception" in drug consumption. The concept of generics and their use in substitution for prescription drugs was discussed in light of the outlined economic objectives together with the advantages and disadvantages patients and physicians can expect.