Analysis of French generic medicines retail market: why the use of generic medicines is limited

Abstract

The market share of generic medicines in France is low compared to other European countries. This perspective paper provides an overview of the generic medicines retail market in France and how the current policy environment may affect the long-term sustainability. Looking at the French generic medicines retail market and the surrounding regulatory framework, all conditions seem to be in place to create a healthy generic medicines market: the country has well-respected regulatory authorities, generic medicines enter the market in a timely manner and prices of generic medicines are competitive compared with other European countries. Despite the success of the demand-side policies targeted at pharmacists and patients, those targeted at physicians were less successful due to a lack of enforcement and a lack of trust in generic medicines by French physicians. Recommendations to increase the use of generic medicines in France round off this perspective paper.

Keywords::

• demand-side policies
• France
• generic medicines
• pharmaceuticals
• pricing
• reimbursement

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Sermet C for critically reviewing the manuscript and providing feedback.

Financial & competing interests disclosure

Simoens S holds the EGA Chair ‘European policy towards generic medicines’. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

Key issues

• The use of generic medicines in France is low compared with other European countries.

• This paper aims to provide a perspective on the French generic medicines retail market and how the current policy environment should be adapted to increase the use of generic medicines.

• At the supply side, everything seems to be in place to create a healthy generic medicines market in France.

• Different demand-side initiatives have already been implemented to increase the use of generic medicines, targeting physicians, pharmacists and patients.

• The ‘tiers-payant contre génériques’ seems to be a highly effective policy to stimulate patients to accept generic substitution.

• The greatest barrier to an increased use of generic medicines seems to be situated at the level of physicians. Despite different initiatives such as financial incentives or independent pharmaceutical representatives, physicians still seem to be reluctant to prescribe generic medicines.

• The French government should take additional action to increase the use of generic medicines. Recommendations to increase the use of generic medicines in France are suggested at the end of this perspective paper.

Notes