There are several global and national initiatives that aim to promote the use of generic medications and to increase access to affordable medicines. Some examples of these initiatives include:
- World Health Organization (WHO): The WHO promotes the use of generic medications as a way to increase access to essential medicines and to reduce the cost of healthcare. The WHO also works to improve the quality and safety of generic medications through its prequalification program, which assesses the quality, efficacy, and safety of generic drugs.
- International Generic Drug Regulators Pilot (IGDRP): The IGDRP is a collaborative initiative among regulatory authorities from around the world that aims to promote the use of generic medications by improving the regulatory process for generic drugs. The IGDRP works to harmonize regulatory requirements and to ensure the quality, efficacy, and safety of generic medications.
- United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA): In the United States, the FDA is responsible for regulating the safety and effectiveness of both generic and brand-name medications. The FDA has several initiatives in place to promote the use of generic medications, including the Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) process, which allows generic drug manufacturers to obtain approval for their products based on the safety and efficacy of a reference-listed drug (brand name medication).
- European Medicines Agency (EMA): In the European Union, the EMA is responsible for regulating the safety and effectiveness of both generic and brand-name medications. The EMA has a number of initiatives in place to promote the use of generic medications, including the mutual recognition procedure, which allows generic drug manufacturers to obtain marketing authorization in multiple EU countries based on a positive assessment by a single member state.
Overall, these initiatives aim to increase access to affordable medications and to ensure the quality, efficacy, and safety of both generic and brand-name medications.