PATENTED AND GENERIC PHARMACEUTICAL DRUGS: PERCEPTION AND PRESCRIPTION

This research aims to determine perceptions ofdoctors under the employ ofthe government in Sarawak towards patented drugs and generic drugs. It also sets out to determine factors that affect doctors prescribing decisions. The population consists ofall the doctors working in the Sarawak government hospitals. This research utilizes both qualitative (interview) and quantitative (questionnaire) methods in obtaining data. Data from the interviews was analyzed and then placed in a questionnaire format. This was then analyzed using Factor analysis.Findings indicate that doctors have different perceptions towards patented and generic drugs and consider several factors in prescribing drugs.