IMO agrees GPs are historically less likely to prescribe generics

By Dara Gantly. The IMO accepts that GPs have been less likely to generically prescribe because of the small differences in pricing between the branded drug and generic equivalent. The absence of tools to monitor prices and any agreed national formularies were also behind why doctors seemed reluctant to embrace generics, according to the union. Commenting on the recent ESRI report on prescribing practices in Ireland, IMO GP Chairperson Dr Ray Walley said that as far back as 2010, the IMO made a submission to the Department of Health advocating a generic medicines policy. “The IMO supports the use of…