[Generic drugs]

When the term of the patent is completed, medicinal products may be copied. Generic products only refer to "essentially similar specialities". It means that bio-equivalence must be established. Generic medicines are cheaper than branded products involving a major economical issue. In Belgium, the share of generic medicines is very small if compared with other european countries. It must be pointed out that up to now the saving is not very attractive but this can be changed in a near future. Moreover, the bio-equivalence is still in doubt. Substitution is certainly not the good way of solving the problem. A better communication and relationship between doctors and pharmacists and their common research of the most appropriate prescription should be a successful approach. It should increase the patient's compliance. Actually, the lack of compliance is according to all observers a major issue. Involvingly both doctors and pharmacists should be the best way of improving quality of care for patient's benefit.