Pharmacy Daily | RACP slams new GMiA code

THE Royal Australasian College of Physicians has urged the Generic Medicines Industry Association (GMiA) to further strengthen its proposed code of conduct, which is currently under consideration by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commisssion (PD 13 Apr). In particular the College says suggestions in the Code which say that generic substitution is unlikely to change health outcomes for patients “does not stand up to scrutiny”. The RACP said that switching between different generic medications “can potentially have substantial negative effects. “The differing size, shape and colour of different brands of the same generic medicine can produce patient confusion, compliance problems and negative health outcomes,” it added. The RACP’s submission to the ACCC enquiry also begs to differ with a GMiA assertion that brand substitution is likely to create savings for patients. “The College would also like the GMiA to reconsider this in light of the possibility of a pharmacist changing a patient’s generic brands purely as a resulf of industry promotional activities, discounting and reward schemes. “Further, if a generic medicine is priced under the PBS co-payment, pharmacists can, and do, charge a higher price than the PBS recommended price to consumers. “As such, brand substitution does not necessarily result in financial savings for the patient,” the submission adds. The RACP also urged that all “educational” events directed at dispensers come under the reporting code along with prescribers, saying “it appears most inappropriate to exclude the reporting of such events directed at pharmacists.” It’s suggested that the GMiA make further provisions about influencing the pharmacy channel, with possible wording: “Advertisements/promotions must not offer any personal incentive to a healthcare professional, pharmacy assistant or other non-healthcare professional sales person, to recommend or supply therapeutic goods”. The deadline for submissions to the ACCC consultation closed yesterday, and now the GMiA will have an opportunity to respond to the issues raised.

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