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Generic prescribing policy

Drugs have a trade name and a generic name. The trade name is a brand name and so there can be several trade names for a single drug if several manufacturers make it. Doctors are expected to prescribe drugs by their generic name because branded drugs like other branded products tend to be more expensive. We believe in this policy at Keyworth Health Centre. But fortunately, unlike most branded and unbranded products, drugs have to meet a quality standard to ensure there is no difference in their effectiveness.

Confusion can arise if you are used to getting your drug in a branded form and then find you are dispensed the product of a different manufacturer. THE DRUG DISPENSED will be exactly the same. Only the name will be different and maybe the physical appearance of the tablet or capsule.

PLEASE REMEMBER that NHS doctors are expected to prescribe generically as this saves millions of pounds that can be spent on other things. AND that the pharmacist is obliged to dispense what is on the prescription.

THEREFORE the responsibility is that of your doctor, not the pharmacist. If you have a problem with a generic product you must discuss it with your doctor. But we cannot change you to a branded product without a good medical reason, as it is part of NHS policy to reduce costs by generic prescribing.

NB. Where there are known to be significant benefits in prescribing a branded drug this is none automatically.