In the US and UK, for example, expenditures on patented drugs account for some 60 % of all monies spent on pharmaceuticals. But in Taiwan they account for only around 30 % --over two-thirds of NHI drug payments are spent on post-patent and generic drugs.
以英、美為例，仍在專利保護期內的藥品，約佔總藥品支付額度的 6 成，而台灣只佔 3 成多，有 2/3 以上藥費是用在支付逾期專利藥和學名藥。