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 NEWS - 2011

Feltwell Surgery Patient Participation Group

Newsletter No. 3

We’ve had a talk from a Prescribing Advisor for NHS Norfolk – West. We found out some things that might help us to understand how we can help save money and at the same time have more money to spend.

Whether we like it or not the NHS has to save £20 million over the next 4 years by 2015. There has to be changes.

None of us want those changes to affect our own care and treatment.

None of us want to be left out or to have anything done on the cheap.

We can save on the cost of drugs. How?

• A drug with a brand name is no different from a drug with a generic name. It does the same thing. While a drug is in the process of being developed the company applies for a patent to protect it from being copied by rival drug companies. This patent lasts for 20 years. If it comes to market before the end of the patent the company may put a cost for R&D on top of the actual ingredient costs. Once the drug is out of patent other companies can make copies (generics).  These copies are required by law to be of the same standard as the original. The drug then becomes part of a competitive market. Tesco’s, Boots, Sainsbury, Waitrose etc can change the way the drug is packaged, coated, coloured or shaped – but the active ingredient has to be the same. It’s like Nurofen versus Ibuprofen – the same drug in different packaging – with a different sales price.

• When a drug first comes into the pharmacies if it’s is still ‘in patent’ the original branding has to be used, it’s an EU ruling -  there is no choice – no alternative. When the drug is ‘off patent’ and generics are used it means the NHS can save money. That’s why doctors ask us to change the make of the medication.

• In the last 6 months 132 patients changed to generic drugs. The cost saved for this is £11,600.

• These savings mean more money can be spent on other things like operations and carers.

• A hip replacement costs approximately £6,000. We’ve saved enough to pay for nearly another two.

Here’s some examples :

      Brand Name                    Cost     Generic Name                   Cost

1. Efexor xl (Venlafaxine)                        Venlalic (generic venlafaxine) XL 

      75 mg tabs                    £22.08         75mg tabs                                £11.20

2. Efexor xl (Venlafaxine) XL                    Venlalic (generic venlafaxine) XL

      150mg tabs                   £36.81         150mg tabs                               £18.70

3. Actonel (Risedronate)                          Risedronate generic

      35mg                            £19.12         35mg                                         £1.66

4. Protium (Pantoprazole)                        Pantoprazole generic

      20mg tabs                     £11.83          20mg                                        £1.18

  

5. Protium (Pantoprazole)                         Pantoprazole generic                  

     40mg tabs                      £20.57           40mg                                        £1.77

So – if you get offered a generic drug by your doctor – give it a go!! You’re not being palmed off with something substandard.

If you’ve changed to generic medication – thank you.

Hip, Hip Hooray

A hip replacement is on its way

GP SURGERIES