This exploratory, descriptive study was conducted on a sample of 289 randomly selected General Practitioners (GPs) who were dispensing at their private clinics in Karachi, Pakistan. The questionnaires were distributed and collected by hand. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 17 was used to perform statistics. The first part of the survey collected demographic data about the doctors, the second part tested their basic understanding of generic versus brand medicines; the third part addressed GPs’ perceptions of generic medicines while lastly their attitude towards prescribing generic medicines was assessed.  A response rate of 71.3% correctly filled in questionnaires was considered acceptable.

Close to three quarters of respondents (n = 148; 71.8%) answered ‘yes’ that generic medicines are a copy of the brand name medicine and they are interchangeable with brand-name medicines.

Fourteen statements were included on the views about safety, quality and efficacy of generic medicines and the reputation of local manufacturers and their low-cost brands. In terms of quality, more than half of the respondents viewed multinational products as being of better quality than local company products (n = 123; 59.7%) and this correlated significantly with gender (p = 0.034) and years of practice (p = 0.021).

Twelve statements assessed prescribing attitude in light of the socio-economic condition of the patient, patients’ demands, influence of medical representatives, as well as quality in local manufacturers’ brands. Information provided by a medical representative and doctors’ own experience in practice were rated highly.

Conclusion
General Practitioners are pulled in different directions by a desire to help the less affluent patients, the theoretical knowledge that generics are equivalent, but practical experience that local brands may not be of such good quality as international brands.

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References

1.  Jamshed SQ, Ibrahim MIM, Hassali MA, Masood I, Low BY, Shafie AA, et al. Perception and attitude of general practitioners regarding generic medicines in Karachi, Pakistan: a questionnaire based study. Southern Med Review. 2012;5(1):22-30.