Tom Milne’s Response To Tom Seltz’s Featured Post

Webb,

In my opinion,the MD’s response is understandable and probably typical. In most instances,pharmacies add a professional fee to the cost of the drug dispensed, so there is little or no incentive to dispense the more expensive brand name drug. What this case shows is a profound lack of communication, a lack of understanding about the safety and efficacy of generics among consumers, and a lack of thoughtfulness on the parts of the MD and pharmacist.

I worked with a legislator in Oregon in 1974 to get a generic law passed. The law requires that every pharmacy post in a conspicuous place a placard that says (may not be quite exact words) “This pharmacy may be able to substitute a less costly but therapeutically equivalent generic drug in place of that which your physician prescribed.”

Something like that, and it might have made a difference in this case.