Same Medicine, Different Label: Understanding Generic Drug Substitution in Canadian Pharmacies
When a pharmacist offers a generic alternative to a brand-name prescription, many Canadian patients hesitate—uncertain whether the substitution is truly equivalent or simply a cost-cutting measure. This article examines how Health Canada's rigorous approval process governs generic medications, what bioequivalence actually means for the patient taking the drug, and how to make informed decisions about when a generic makes sense and when a brand-name product may be medically warranted.