Patients can ask doctors to prescribe drugs with its scientific name, not its brand name
Saudi Arabia's Health Ministry on Tuesday has confirmed that the patients have the right to ask the doctors to prescribe drugs with its scientific name, and not obligate them with its brand name.
The ministry’s confirmation came while revealing an infographic showing the difference between the drug with the scientific name and the drug with the brand name.
It emphasized that there is no difference between them with regard the active substance, and the only difference is the price.
Additionally, the ministry has stated that the patients have the right to not be obligated to buy the drug from a specific pharmacy.
They, the ministry said, also have the right to ask the pharmacist about all the drug options they have and are available in the pharmacy.
It stated that the patients have the right to ask the doctor to write the scientific name of the drug in order to facilitate the search process and to raise its availability in pharmacies.
The scientific name of the drug helps and allows the patients to be prescribed with the drug from all companies that manufacture similar drugs under different names.
While the brand name of the drug will limit the diversification of options, as the drug will be dispensed to the patient from a specific brand from one company.
The ministry asked the patients to contact them through the following number, 937, if they noticed that the doctor had written the drug with its brand name.
It emphasized that there is no difference between them with regard the active substance, and the only difference is the price.
Additionally, the ministry has stated that the patients have the right to not be obligated to buy the drug from a specific pharmacy.
They, the ministry said, also have the right to ask the pharmacist about all the drug options they have and are available in the pharmacy.
It stated that the patients have the right to ask the doctor to write the scientific name of the drug in order to facilitate the search process and to raise its availability in pharmacies.
The scientific name of the drug helps and allows the patients to be prescribed with the drug from all companies that manufacture similar drugs under different names.
While the brand name of the drug will limit the diversification of options, as the drug will be dispensed to the patient from a specific brand from one company.
The ministry asked the patients to contact them through the following number, 937, if they noticed that the doctor had written the drug with its brand name.