Waiting for (re)forms

Note: On April 2, 2015, the Ministry of Public Health announced that Minister Wael Abou Faour had issued a decision to adopt the final form of the unified prescription and to begin printing the new forms immediately, stipulating that use of the new forms will be obligatory starting June 1, 2015. [pullquote]The new regulation might encourage greater prescribing of generic medication[/pullquote] The Lebanese people’s preference for the expensive over the reduced price, for the label over the no-name brand, is one based on perception. The thinking goes that a ridiculous price tag distinguishes financial and class superiority. Instead, it is name recognition that serves towards authenticating quality and trust, so companies register trademarks to maintain that recognition and separate themselves from the rest of the pack. In Lebanon, brand name drugs dominate the market, but off label generics are frequently just as effective in reducing pain, alleviating symptoms or curing the sick