Less effective and less safe than the original products, generics are still judged severely by the French.
Recently, Mutualité Française, which brings together 95% of mutuals, wanted to boost the generic market. According to her, giving them more space would allow millions of savings to the French health system. But obviously, there is still work to be done to convince the French of the safety of these products! Indeed, even if it is the same molecule as the original drug, and that only the brand changes, the French continue to be wary of generics. This is what a poll by the French Institute of Public Opinion (IFOP) revealed on Tuesday.
Less effective drugs for the French
In this survey (1) carried out for the group of pharmacists PHR, 40% of people questioned believe that generics are “not as safe” as original drugs, against 29% in 2011, an increase of 11 points in two years.
In addition, the concerns of the French also relate to the effectiveness of these drugs. Thus, 31% affirm that they are not “as effective” as those of origin, against 28% in 2012 and 23% in 2011, that is to say an increase of 8 points in two years. The latest studies questioning the bioequivalence of these products would it have sown doubt in the minds of the French.
2 in 5 French people continue to refuse them
In addition, the mistrust of those questioned is also reflected in their consumption habits: only 57% state that they systematically accept generic drugs. They were 62% in 2011. In addition, a majority (55%) is now against the abolition of the third-party payment in the event of refusal of a generic drug offered by the pharmacist, while they were only 46% in 2012.
“Third-party payment blackmail contributes to distrust of credits. We use coercion instead of getting people to join ”, underlines in this survey Lucien Bennatan, president of PHR. To boost this market, he recommends educational action, relayed by a major national information campaign, particularly on television. This, above all, “to answer the questions of the population. “
France remains a poor student in Europe
However, despite the fears of the French, the share of generics in reimbursable drugs has increased from 11% in 2012 to 16% today. Figures “rising sharply”, commented recently the Gemme, a structure that brings together manufacturers. And this, after a year 2011 which had been marked by a decline in sales.
Despite this revival, France remains a poor student in terms of generics. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) recently cited Germany (76%) and the United Kingdom (75%) as an example.
(1) The survey was conducted from September 26 to 1er October 2013 on a sample of 1,003 people representative of the French population aged 18 and over, by online questionnaire using the quota method.
.
