Generics save European countries 100 billion euros annually, study says

The use of generic medicines saves European health systems – and the taxpayers who fund them – 100 billion euros ($112 billion) per year, a new study has found.

Entitled The Role of Generic Medicines in Sustaining Healthcare Systems: A European Perspective, the IMS Institute for Healthcare Informatics study was presented on Wednesday during a seminar in Portugal organized by APOGEN, the Portuguese Association of Generic Medicines and Biosimilars.

The study found that by 2050 the European population aged more than 65 will increase from 129 million to 191 million, with a consequent increase in the incidence of chronic diseases and the corresponding impact on the health expense of states.