6.4.2 Perceived barriers to taking biosimilar medicines Those consumers who could see potential barriers to taking biosimilar medicines (n=35) were prompted as to what those potential barriers might be. As shown in the following table: Consumers had greatest concern for patient outcomes overall (69%), and considered the largest barrier to be about personal adverse followed by ‘concern outcomes’ (26%) ‘concern about having a fail and this counting against me in terms of PBS subsidised access to biologic medicines in the (23%). future’ Two in five consumers raised information related concerns (40%). Of note, the largest proportion of consumers overall mentioned information on biosimilar medicines for ‘insufficient (29%) as being a barrier. A further 17% mentioned information on patients’ ‘insufficient biosimilar medicines for prescribers’. Table 13: Potential barriers to taking biosimilar medicines Total consumer Patients Carers (n=35) % (n=29) % (n=6)* % Patient outcomes - total 69 69 67 Concern about adverse outcomes for 26 28 17 [me/the person I care for] Concern about having a fail and this 23 24 17 counting against [me/the person I care for] in terms of PBS subsidised access to biologic medicines in the future Immunogenicity concerns 20 24 - Concern over the strength of 20 17 33 pharmacovigilance activities Information related - total 40 41 33 Insufficient information on biosimilar 29 28 33 medicines for patients Insufficient information on biosimilar 17 21 - medicines for prescribers Price related - total 17 14 33 Absence of incentives for patients to use 9 7 17 biosimilar medicines Absence of incentives for physicians to 9 7 17 prescribe biosimilar medicines Other - total 17 17 17 Concern over the delay of biosimilar 9 7 17 medicines due to legal / international patent issues
6.4.2 Perceived barriers to taking biosimilar medicines Those consumers who could see potential barriers to taking biosimilar medicines (n=35) were prompted as to what those potential barriers might be. As shown in the following table: Consumers had greatest concern for patient outcomes overall (69%), and considered the largest barrier to be ‘concern about personal adverse outcomes’ (26%) followed by ‘concern about having a fail and this counting against me in terms of PBS subsidised access to biologic medicines in the future’ (23%). Two in five consumers raised information related concerns (40%). Of note, the largest proportion of consumers overall mentioned ‘insufficient information on biosimilar medicines for patients’ (29%) as being a barrier. A further 17% mentioned ‘insufficient information on biosimilar medicines for prescribers’. Table 13: Potential barriers to taking biosimilar medicines Total consumer (n=35) % Patients (n=29) % Carers (n=6)* % Patient outcomes - total 69 69 67 Concern about adverse outcomes for [me/the person I care for] 26 28 17 Concern about having a fail and this counting against [me/the person I care for] in terms of PBS subsidised access to biologic medicines in the future 23 24 17 Immunogenicity concerns 20 24 - Concern over the strength of pharmacovigilance activities 20 17 33 Information related - total 40 41 33 Insufficient information on biosimilar medicines for patients 29 28 33 Insufficient information on biosimilar medicines for prescribers 17 21 - Price related - total 17 14 33 Absence of incentives for patients to use biosimilar medicines 9 7 17 Absence of incentives for physicians to prescribe biosimilar medicines 9 7 17 Other - total 17 17 17 Concern over the delay of biosimilar medicines due to legal / international patent issues 9 7 17