A majority of Greeks trusts domestically produced pharmaceuticals but are not aware that local generics are cheaper than imported drugs, according to a survey conducted by ALCO for the Pan-Hellenic Pharmaceutical Industry Union. Those taking the survey largely blamed multinational firms and bad policy for the fact that 80 pct of drugs consumed in Greece were imported.
According to the nationwide survey, eight in 10 Greeks trust Greek pharmaceuticals and this percentage rises to 84 pct of those over 45 years old, who are the main consumers of medicinal drugs.
Asked why 80 pct of pharmaceuticals consumed in Greece are imported, 43 pct blamed “pressures from multinational companies” on governments, 24 pct blamed doctors for promoting imported drugs, 18 pct blamed bad policies, 10 pct blamed misinformation and 3 pct said promotion by pharmacists was responsible.
Regarding the recent government measures on pharmaceutical policy, 73 pct consider that these are damaging for the Greek pharmaceutical industry and should be withdrawn, while 27 pct consider that they are correct.
The survey additionally showed that Greeks are largely unaware that Greek-produced generics are, on average, 65 pct cheaper than imported brand-name originals. Only one in 100 of those taking the survey were aware of this large price difference and only a minority of four in 10 was aware that Greek generics were cheaper than their imported brand name counterparts.
The other six in 10 people taking the survey either had no idea what price relationship there was between Greek generics and imported brand name drugs (32 pct) or else wrongly believed that Greek-produced drugs were more expensive than their brand name counterparts (28 pct).
(source: ana-mpa)
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