Easy money? Health cost savings resulting from the switch from a branded drug to a low-cost generic drug in the same class.

摘要

The review and meta-analysis by Grosso et al. (1) comparing the effectiveness of the angiotensin receptor blocker candesartan with losartan in patients with hypertension and in those with systolic heart failure suggesting that one should substitute generic losartan for candesartan has, as pointed out by the authors, the potential to reduce healthcare costs. In view of the economic pressure to reduce healthcare costs in most parts of the world, it is important that we consider the most cost-effective therapy for our patients. As clinicians, we have our primary obligation to our patients, but we also have an obligation to society and our healthcare providers to be certain that we provide not only the best but also the most cost-I effective therapy. The implications of this analysis are therefore important. Many clinicians and patients depending upon their healthcare plans are familiar with this dilemma and have received notices from their healthcare provider suggesting that they substitute less expensive generic drugs for more expensive branded drugs of the same class.