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FORCED SWITCHING

Which biologic or biosimilar to prescribe is a decision that should be made by physicians, in consultation with their patients. But in some jurisdictions, governments are forcing patients to switch from their physician chosen biologic (or biosimilar) to a government-chosen  product – not for medical reasons, but so that governments can save money. Biosimilars will always have inherent differences from the originator product and from other biosimilars in their product class. While safe and effective products in their own right, due to these differences, most European countries do not allow “automatic substitution”—or forced switching—with biosimilars. Canadian physician societies and patient advocacy organizations have raised concerns with forced switching.

CANADA’S PHYSICIANS, PATIENTS OPPOSE FORCED SWITCHING

“Non-medical switching in patients being treated with a reference biologic is generally not accepted by learned societies and the consulted clinicians.”

– “Safety of switching biologics and their interchangeability”, INESS Report (Quebec), May 2020 

In a 2017 survey of 403 Canadian physicians:

• 83% considered it “very important” or “critical” that prescribing physicians decide the most suitable biologic for their patients.
• 64% were uncomfortable with a third party switching a patient’s biologic medicine for nonmedical (e.g. cost) reasons.

Physicians know what is best for patients—that’s why they oppose governments forcing them to choose a medicine, based purely on cost considerations.

Video: Canadian Physicians Oppose Non-Medical Switching

Read the Joint statement from the Canadian Association of Gastorenterology and Crohn’s and Colitis Canada opposing non-medical switching of IBD patients.

A BETTER WAY TO FIND SAVINGS

Containing health care costs is important. There’s a better way to reduce costs than forced switching. In the vast majority of countries, the payer continues to reimburse multiple products—biosimilars and biologics alike. In many countries, the physician is encouraged to choose the lowest priced product for new patients. The result is a competitive market that drives down costs across the board for the long-term—a better option then the short-term savings of forced switching. Cost savings in Europe were accomplished not by forcing patients to switch to a single government-chosen biologic, but by preserving physician and patient choice.