RE your report about a university study which found that GPs had saved taxpayers millions of pounds by prescribing lower-cost generic medicines rather than more expensive branded drugs (Echo, May 27).

Generic drugs are not always a cheaper alternative to branded products because they can produce side-effects needing medical attention and consequent costs. Sometimes, patients need to resume using the original drug.

If the National Audit Office is not aware of this, and has not taken this into account, then its “savings” figures will be inaccurate.

Tony Pelton, Catterick, North Yorkshire.