Greek healthcare goes all-generic

ATHENS, Greece, Jan. 24 (UPI) -- The Health Ministry in Greece said doctors in a national healthcare plan would only be allowed to prescribe generic drugs.

Health Minister Andreas Loverdos said revenue from some government initiatives had fallen short of expectations. About $3 million was raised by selling smoking permits to casinos and other establishments with live music, Ekathimerini reported Tuesday.

The government had projected the smoking permits would raise $52 million.

Moving to generic drugs only for doctors in the National Organization for Healthcare Provision is expected to save $1.17 billion a year. Currently, only 18 percent of prescription medications in Greece are generic drugs, Ekathimerini reported.