USA's GPhA calls on 'Super Committee' to pursue policies encouraging use of generic drugs

The US Generic Pharmaceutical Association (GPhA) says it has sent a letter to Co-Chairs Senator Patty Murray (Democrat, Washington) and Representative Jeb Hensarling (Republican, Texas) and the members of the Congressional “Super Committee” currently deliberating policies to reduce the nation’s deficit and debt, outlining the enormous savings generic medications provide consumers and the US health care system and urging the committee to consider approaches that remove, rather than erect, barriers to increase the system-wide use of safe and affordable generic drugs.

“We believe that incentives to increase the utilization and availability of generic drugs will provide substantial savings for both the public and private sectors and should be embraced,” said Ralph Neas, president and chief executive of the GPhA, in the letter. “Conversely, policies that reduce access to these products, such as through banning pro-competitive patent settlements, or simply shift costs to the private sector, such as federal rebate increases, are counterproductive and should be rejected,” he stressed.

Cites data on savings form generic use