[Generic drug policy implementation in Brazil].

A generic drug policy has been implemented in Brazil since 1999. Several political and administrative stages transpired between enactment of the legislation and the actual marketing and consumption of these drugs. This article describes the policy implementation process and examines the country's generic drug legislation, approved from 1999 to 2002. To contextualize these measures, the study compares articles published by two national periodicals and interviews with a government representative involved in drafting the legislation and a representative from the pharmaceutical industry. Generic drugs quickly gained considerable space in the Brazilian pharmaceutical market. Ongoing adaptation of the legislation, media support, and the government's involvement in spreading the policy were key success factors. The population's access to medicines did not increase significantly, but people can now purchase medicines at more affordable prices and with quality assurance and interchangeability.