Biosimilar medicines contain the same active substance and have the same therapeutic effect as branded medicines. Their price is at least 35,8% to minimum 43,54% lower than the original price of the branded medicine. Biosimilars are essential to making expensive biologic treatments available as widely as possible.

Generic medicines contain the same active substance and have the same therapeutic effect as branded medicines. Their price is at least between 54% and 65% lower than the original price of the branded medicine. Generic medicines allow more patients to be better treated.

Off-patent brand medicines are originator medicines whose patent has expired. To be considered cheap, their price must have decreased to a level generally comparable to that of most generic or biosimilar medicines. Cheap branded medicines help to keep healthcare accessible.

Self-care products are products that are freely available at pharmacies, such as self-care medicines, self-care medical devices and food supplements. Patients can use them upon their own initiative, to preserve their health. Their ‘good use’ substantially reduces the social costs of being ill.