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BACKGROUND: There have been multiple reforms in South Africa to conserve resources including policies to enhance generic use, such as compulsory generic substitution and copayments. However, there are concerns with the limited knowledge of their impact. OBJECTIVE: The objective was to determine utilization and expenditure of different proton pump inhibitors (PPIs). METHODOLOGY: A retrospective drug utilization study was conducted on a prescription database of a medical aid administrator in 2010. RESULTS: The limited prescribing of single-sourced PPIs accounted for 21.5% of total prescriptions. The limited use of originators omeprazole and lansoprazole accounted for 1.8 and 1.4% of total prescriptions for the molecule, respectively. Generic prices accounted for 36-68% of the originator in 2010. Patients received on average 2.91 PPI prescriptions during the year. CONCLUSION: Policies to enhance prescribing of generics appear working. Opportunities exist to further lower generic prices given low prices in some European countries.

Original publication

DOI

10.2217/cer.14.70

Type

Journal article

Journal

J Comp Eff Res

Publication Date

03/2015

Volume

4

Pages

123 - 131

Keywords

Europe, PPIs, South Africa, drug utilization, generics, prices, Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Child, Child, Preschool, Drugs, Generic, Female, Humans, Infant, Infant, Newborn, Lansoprazole, Male, Middle Aged, Omeprazole, Practice Patterns, Physicians', Private Sector, Proton Pump Inhibitors, Retrospective Studies, South Africa, Young Adult