In recent years, a great deal of interest has arisen in belief of some that by using generic terminology in all prescription writing, a distinct saving in the cost of drugs to patients will result. In several Senate hearings and in the public utterances by the various legislators and union executives, it is obvious that they, as well as many of the lay public and some physicians, feel that use of generic names for prescription drugs will lead to a distinct lowering in the price of drugs to the patient. Because of the wide interest in this problem, we will attempt to provide various views and some thoughts on issues involved from the viewpoints of the general public, a member of a state legislature, physicians, and pharmacists.
The Public's View
Drug prices are of great concern to the general public in view of the fact that every citizen, whether ill