Perceptions of physicians from private medical centres in Malaysia about generic medicine usage: a qualitative study

Abstract

Introduction: The healthcare sector is one of the most rapidly expanding and dynamic industries in the world. Pharmaceutical expenditure is now growing faster than other components of healthcare overheads. Globally, pressures to manage pharmaceutical spending have led to increased prescribing of generic drugs. Use of generic drugs in private medical centres in Malaysia, however, remains low, despite intervention from the Ministry of Health. Methods: Specialists serving in privately owned medical centres were interviewed to evaluate their perceptions and knowledge about generic medications. Results: Eighteen medical specialists from different medical fields were interviewed. The majority of specialists were positive about generics substitution but cynical about their quality in terms of efficacy and safety for some drug categories. Physicians preferred to see the results of bioequivalence conducted by generics manufacturers and also preferred them to supplement it with some small-scale community-based pharmacodynamic studies. Conclusion: The success of generics in private hospitals in Malaysia depends on changing the perception of these physicians about generic drugs. In addition to implementing generic drug usage policy for private hospitals in Malaysia, this can also be achieved through improved marketing and promotion of generic drug products. High-quality educational programmes are needed to inform and educate physicians about the role of the National Pharmaceutical Control Bureau in regulating generic drugs.