A IMPORTÂNCIA DOS MEDICAMENTOS GENÉRICOS PARA OS IDOSOS

Abstract

Medicines are essential components for the treatment of various diseases, enabling rehabilitation and health maintenance. The World Health Organization (WHO) has been publishing its list of “Essential Medicines” biannually since 1977. This central list presents a minimum set of drugs needed by a basic health system, listing those that are most effective, safe and economical for priority diseases. Generic drugs are drugs whose original patent has expired and which can now be produced by manufacturers other than the original innovator (patent holder). Several studies have shown that there is resistance on the part of physicians and, consequently, of the elderly to seek generic medications. Even though the value of prescription drugs and generics are divergent and often more expensive. What makes the acceptance by the elderly population of generic products becoming a challenge to the pharmaceutical market. Thus, this work has as its main objective to understand the importance of the consumption of generic drugs for the elderly. As well as demonstrating what the existing Health Policies regarding pharmaceutical assistance and its effectiveness in Basic Health and; Identify ways to obtain medicines including the SUS and the Popular Pharmacy Program. The study will be based on a literature review, as it intends to gather the information already found on the subject, and a qualitative methodology will be applied, focusing on the subjective character of the analyzed bibliography, by concepts, definitions, positions and opinions, as well as a deductive and descriptive methodology.