Abstract:

In this presentation we would like to present a survey of recent developments in the drugs market in the Netherlands. We will base ourselves on publications in newspapers and trade magazines and on information published by public bodies in so far as they concern general trends. We will also use two studies of our own. In the first we plotted attitudes of prescribers and suppliers towards drugs and medications, while the second study was concerned with the ideas of 'opinion leaders' regarding the relationship between brandnames and drugs without a specific brand, the so-called 'generics'. This last element will come up several times during this presentation. This also accounts for the fact that we will be dealing mainly with prescription drugs. The 'over the counter' medications, i.e. those available through pharmacists and chemists, will only be dealt with in passing.