 Re: brand vs generic dispensing
The patient gets the cheapest bloody thing i have in my dispensary if the Rx is generic (unless there is a difference in bioavailablility eg sodium valproate) - if thats a brand on a deal from the wholesaler then so be it but most of the time its a generic or a 'branded' generic.
At my old place we used to give salamol for salbutamol cfc-free inhalers because the price was better than ventolin. At my new place it's the same price so they have a choice.
If i get a complaint I point out that the NHS reimburses us for the cost of medicines on an FP10 BUT they only pay us the cost of what's written - i'm not willing to lose money just because somone doesn't like the shape of their tablet.
HOWEVER if the patient is being made ill from not having their trusty 10x more expensive brand then i'll normally chase it up at the docs for them to get a branded prescribed & sort it out.
As regards 'top-up' payments for drugs - well this is being discussed at government level in a roundabout sort of way right now - but in my opinion this creates a two-tier health service which goes against the basic principles of the NHS.
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