Table 4 Benefits and problems of GS and RPS as reported by the dispensers
Benefits | Respondents (n = 476)a n (%) |
|---|---|
Cost savings for customers and society | 354 (74.4) |
Lower medicine prices and price competition | 106 (22.3) |
Improved availability in medicine shortages | 92 (19.3) |
Customer has the right to decide on GS and the freedom to choose the product | 65 (13.7) |
Improved medication adherence by choosing the most suitable preparation for the customerb and due to a lower medicine price | 33 (6.9) |
No need to contact the physician about GS | 25 (5.3) |
Several optional interchangeable medicines | 13 (2.7) |
Otherc | 36 (7.6) |
Problems | Respondents (n = 467)a n(%) |
Medicine availability problems | 149 (31.9) |
Changes in medicine prices and reference price band | 135 (28.9) |
GS takes time and increases the workload (e.g. price counselling, explaining the system to customers, checking the availability of interchangeable products) | 113 (24.2) |
Inventory control is challenging (e.g. not everything or even the cheapest can be kept in stock, difficulty in storage due to the unpredictability of preparations within reference price bands) | 101 (21.6) |
Change of the preparation due to GS may pose a risk to medication safety (e.g. changes in name, packaging or appearance confuse customers, double medication, complications in keeping up to date with medicines in use) | 100 (21.4) |
The system is complex for the customer to understand | 72 (15.4) |
Actions by pharmaceutical companies (e.g. setting really low prices for a small batch of medicines) | 54 (11.6) |
Customers’ suspicious or negative attitude towards GS | 42 (9.0) |
Obligation to inform the customer about the cheapest product is frustrating (e.g. because of small price differences between products) | 33 (7.1) |
Differences between interchangeable preparations (e.g. experienced efficacy, side effects, whether or not tablets can be split) | 30 (6.4) |
Information systems problems (e.g. do not provide enough information about availability) | 19 (4.1) |
Too many interchangeable medicines options | 18 (3.9) |
Otherd | 68 (14.6) |