silky1
Active Member
- Messages
- 39
- Type of diabetes
- Treatment type
- Tablets (oral)
Unfortunately, in a monopoly market, and a sadly increasing but captive audience, then market share will still increase regardless of price. The only way that could change is to assist other manufacturers to bring generics to market.
UH! - Have you ever seen the generic market? I used to be an inventory manager for one of (if not the biggest) UK Pharmaceutical wholesaler - drugs are kept on license for 'x' amount of years to enable developing companies to recoup their costs which at least in part go towards developing new drugs, they then have to try and compete with generic makers who can throw these meds out for a fraction of the price - but if we didn't have this licensing of new drugs - we not see some of the life-saving meds that have come onto the market in recent times.
The generic, grey market and parallel import markets are HUGE; unfortunately some generics don't work as efficiently as the brands, or use ingredients that can cause further problems for patients.
I've just fallen into this myself with something as common as effervescent co-codamol as my pharmacy's wholesaler has changed to brand containing Aspartame (to which I have a severe allergy - and only thought to check after a weekend of being frighteningly ill)
I know exactly how they are able to source other brands - but not really my place to say - I still take two branded meds because of severe reactions with generics. It's an even bigger problem in Wales because our stupid assembly don't charge or scripts - so there is a massive effort to drive costs down even further - certainly not for the benefit of customers and potentially resulting in a longer higher term cost for care-givers.