• Bookmark and Share
  • Printer Friendly
  • Text Resizer - Small
  • Text Resizer - Large
  • Email this page

Generic medicines: Information for health professionals Generic medicines: Information for health professionals

Image of a man called Gonzalo saying 'They meet the same standards.' Also has the message that ‘Generic medicines are an equal choice. They contain the same active ingredient.’


Generic medicines are an equal choice — they contain the same active ingredient

The 2008 campaign aims to support consumers in making a safe and informed decision regarding generic medicines. The National Prescribing Service Ltd (NPS) is telling consumers that generic medicines are an equal choice and they contain the same active ingredient as the original brand of medicine.

The campaign messages encourage consumers to speak to their doctor or pharmacist, call Medicines Line and refer to NPS resources for more information.

Why focus on the active ingredient?

The 2008 campaign focuses on the consumer getting to know the active ingredient name for generic medicines they use.

Consumers are advised that generic medicines contain the same active ingredient as the original brand medicine. By being familiar with the active ingredient name, consumers are reassured that the medicine they are taking contains the active ingredient their doctor prescribed. From this consumers can make informed decisions and reduce the risk of potential confusion and medicine misadventure.

What does NPS ask health professionals to do?

Encourage your patients to be familiar with the active ingredient name for prescription medicines especially when a brand is substituted.
  • For pharmacists, point out or highlight the active ingredient on the label or medicine packaging when dispensing medicine for the patient.
  • When prescribing and dispensing medicines, where safe and appropriate, discuss the availability and suitability of generic medicines with your patients.
  • Brand substitution, where appropriate, should be discussed and agreed with the patient prior to dispensing.
  • Consider your patient’s needs, for example, whether brand switching may cause confusion.
  • When dispensing prescription repeats, where possible, offer the customer the same brand.

Information and resources for community pharmacies

Generic medicines pharmacy tool kit

As part of the 2008 Generic medicines are an equal choice campaign, each community pharmacy in Australia was mailed a generic medicines pharmacy tool kit in October 2008. The aim of the generic medicines pharmacy tool kit is to support best practice in community pharmacies when discussing generic medicines with consumers. The kit was developed in consultation with the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia, the Pharmacy Guild of Australia, practising community pharmacists and consumers.

The kit contains:
  • prescription intake forms
  • prescription folders
  • best practice guides on brand substitution when taking in and giving out prescription medicines
  • ancillary labels.
Image of Generic medicines pharmacy tool kit

The ancillary label is an alternative to the existing ancillary label 15 in the Australian Pharmaceutical Formulary and Handbook (APF). The APF Editorial Board will be including this alternative label as label 15b in the 21st edition of APF (to be released in 2009).

Download more information on the contents of the kit.

Pharmacists and their staff are encouraged to:

  • Avoid offering brand substitution where not allowed, e.g. inappropriate and/or alternative brands are not available.
  • Offer brand substitution when taking in prescriptions if appropriate.
  • Obtain consumer consent before substituting to a generic brand.
  • Offer the same brand when filling repeats.
  • Discuss with the consumer the active ingredient name and point out the active ingredient name on the label and/or medicine packaging.
  • Explain the brand substitution carefully to the consumer and make sure they understand which brand the medicine replaces.
NPS also encourages pharmacists to train pharmacy staff in how to answer questions about generic medicines appropriately and/or when to refer to the pharmacist if necessary. For more information see our training material.

All items in the kit can be reordered through Stirling Fildes on 1300 651 118.

Where to go for more information on generic medicines

For health professionals: Resources for consumers:

This site complies to the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information: verify here.
Health Insite Logo This website is certified by Health On the Net Foundation. Click to verify.