The sales of generic increased by 50% these first two months of the year and their market share passed from 8% to 12%. Some legislative alterations seem to be at the origin of this change.

Markus Meier, director of the Swiss union of manufacturers of generic medicines (Intergenerika), confirmed Friday this information of the "Espresso" broadcast of the Alemannian radio DRS. Since April 1st, the patients who wish an original medicine when a generic is available should pay 20% of their pocket, and either 10%.

This measure is part of a packet aiming to reduce the costs of health. According to M. Meier, the announcement of this novelty seems to have had the effect, because it touches the purse directly. But the curve could become level under year, it estimates.

Already in 2005

The echo is different at Interpharma. Its spokeswoman Sara Käch underlines that in 2005 already, the sales of generic grew of 40%. We are favorable to the encouragement of the generic, as well as au principle of the involvement differentiated of the patients, she/it specifies.

"But after the announcement of this measure, there was a misunderstanding that drove to a discrimination of the original medicines", add the spokeswoman. According to her, the patients and maybe same some physicians think, to wrong, that the 20% of involvement are valid for all original preparations. The pharmaceutical industry hopes for the corrections in this domain.

Otherwise, the patents for some medicines of big diffusion arrived to maturity, said Mrs. Käch. Interpharma regroups Novartis, Roche and Serono. Only Novartis is active on the market of the generic.