Where a cheap medicine is not the same as a generic medicine: the Belgian case

Abstract Objectives The aim of this article is to describe the experience with the Belgian policy that obliges physicians to prescribe minimum quota of cheap medicines and to document the outcomes of this policy using publicly available data. Methods Data were obtained from yearly feedback reports of the policy on the website of the Belgian third-party payer (RIZIV/INAMI), which were sent to all physicians. Data were derived from Farmanet, a database where all data of prescriptions of reimbursed medicines from all physicians in Belgium are collected. Key findings All groups of general practiti... Mehr ...