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10 Generic Drugs Facts

1.Health Canada reviews and approves all drugs (brand-name and generic) before they can be sold in Canada.

2.Health Canada mandates that a generic drug is designed to work the same way in the body as the original brand-name drug.

3.Health Canada requires that both brand-name and generic drug companies follow the same rules for the manufacturing process and for ensuring the quality of their ingredients.

4.Health Canada mandates that generic drugs have the same active ingredient and that they work the same way in the body as the brand-name drug.

5.Generic drugs must also have the same amount of active ingredient in the prescription.

6.Health Canada even regulates the non-medicinal ingredients, such as fillers and preservatives, for both brand-name and generic drugs and they are subject to the same approval process.

7.When a generic drug is approved by Health Canada that means the medicine is as safe and as effective as the original brand-name drug and they will work the same way.

8.The only difference between a generic and a brand-name drug is the price. Generic drugs are used to fill more than 63% of all prescriptions in Canada, but they account for only 24% of the $22.1-billion dollars Canadians spend annually on prescription drugs.

9.About two-thirds of all prescriptions in Canada are filled with generic drugs.

10.Everyday in Canada, approximately one-million prescriptions are filled using generic drugs.

From The Canadian Generic Pharmaceutical Association (CGPA)

Overview of NAPRA’s National Drug Schedules (NDS)

Schedule I drugs: A prescription is required. Schedule I drugs are provided to patients by the pharmacist following diagnosis and intervention of a healthcare practitioner. The sale of schedule I drugs is controlled in a regulated environment according to provincial pharmacy legislation.

Schedule II drugs: A prescription is not required. However, schedule II drugs are available only from the pharmacist and must be stored within an area of the pharmacy where there is no public access and no opportunity for self-selection. Schedule II drugs require the professional intervention of the pharmacist at the point of sale and possibly referral to a healthcare practitioner.

Schedule III drugs: A prescription is not required. However, schedule III may present risks to certain populations in self-selection. Schedule III drugs are sold from the self-selection area of the pharmacy which is operated under the direct supervision of the pharmacist, subject to any local professional discretionary requirements which may increase the degree of control. The pharmacist is available, accessible and approachable to provide assistance.

Unscheduled drugs: Unscheduled drugs can be sold without professional supervision. Adequate information is available for the patient to make a safe and effective choice. The labeling of unscheduled drugs is deemed sufficient to ensure the appropriate use of the drug.

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