Value of generic medicines: an health economics study

Background Generic medicines provide an opportunity to obtain similar treatments at lower costs for patients and payers, while liberating budgets for financing new innovative medicines. The debate on generic medicines has been centered on affordability and cost-savings so far. Positive health impact of generic medicines has, however, been scarcely discussed. The aim of the study is to examine the value of generic medicines in a more comprehensive way, particularly including the patient-related value. This involves generic medicines’ health impact in terms of not only medication adherence and compliance, but also in terms of health outcomes measured by primary endpoints or by more comprehensive health benefit measures as well as public health aspects.