Assessment of Generic Drugs in the Caribbean

Abstract

In Caribbean countries the public sector is the largest purchaser of medicines. Patients may receive these medicines either at no cost or for very nominal charges at primary, secondary, or tertiary health care institutions. A limited drug list determined by the country’s experts or the national formulary influences decisions for purchase of medications. Patent rights on branded drugs are honored and generic equivalents are not purchased until patent expiry. Though cost-containment issues are forceful determinants of the selection of generic products, brand name products may be offered at more economical prices, as in Trinidad. Currently, approximately 35–55% of each country’s requirement is generic substitution; this is likely to increase. Bioavailability data are usually submitted while tendering for new introductions of generic products.

Standard bioavailability laboratories doing drug testing are not present in the region. The Caribbean Regional Drug Testing Laboratory in Jamaica undertakes analysis for Caribbean countries on government requests and for a fee for private consumers. Production of generic drugs in the English speaking Caribbean is undertaken predominantly in Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, and Jamaica. Together with the eastern Caribbean countries they are the major buyers of generic products. Certification of the generic equivalent in the country of origin is mandatory. In Trinidad and Tobago the Minstry of Health is drafting a national drug policy which will address evaluation of generic substitutes. Concerns about the standards of generic equivalents from prescribers, regulatory authorities, and academia are discussed.