Make the switch: New NHS campaign tackles medicine myths
Monday, 4 May 2026
NHS Cheshire and Merseyside has launched ‘Make the switch’ - a new regional campaign tackling common myths around switching medications, to help patients feel confident about using other versions of their medicines.
Across the NHS, huge numbers of patients have been successfully switched to different versions of their medicines to treat their health conditions. But research shows that many people have concerns about switching - often based on misunderstandings about quality, safety, or effectiveness.
Local NHS leaders are launching the new campaign ‘Make the switch’ to directly address these barriers - increasing understanding of how different medicines work, the benefits of switching medicines, and the robust safety and quality standards they must meet.
Patients may hear from their NHS team about switching to
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a better value, equivalent version of the same medicine
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a newer formulation of the same medicine
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or a different medicine
Susanne Lynch, Chief Pharmacist at NHS Cheshire and Merseyside, explains:
“The NHS for many years has promoted and used medicines called ‘generic’ or ‘bioequivalent’, which are versions of original brand-name medicines that are better value and often more readily available. They work in the same way, and are equally safe and effective.
“They can be much more cost-effective because when patents (legal rights) on the original brand expire over time, other manufacturers can then produce ‘generic’ or ‘bioequivalent’ versions, often at a much lower cost. Please be assured though, that if there is a specific safety reason to prescribe the brand-name version of your medicine, then this will still happen.
“Sometimes your NHS team may also propose a switch to a different formulation of your medicine, or a different medication that has been proven to give the same, or improved, treatment results. This will only be done when the proposed switch is right for you.
Myth-busting: what patients often want to know
If it’s more cost-effective, is it lower quality?
No. All medicines prescribed by the NHS must meet strict UK safety and quality standards. A medicine can cost less simply because it has been produced by a different manufacturer.
Will it work as well as my usual medicine?
Yes, your NHS team will only prescribe a medicine that is right for your health needs, and all medicines are tested to the same standards to make sure they are just as effective.
Why does it look different?
Different brands or medicines may use different packaging, medication shapes or colours - but the medicine inside is regulated to the same standards and will only be prescribed if it’s right for you and your health needs.
Is it safe if it’s made overseas?
Yes. All NHS‑supplied medicines, wherever they are made, must meet the same strict standards before they are approved and licensed for use in the UK.
Dr Fiona Lemmens, Executive Clinical Director at NHS Cheshire and Merseyside, said:
“Any change will only be proposed if it is appropriate for your health needs, and switching medicines is always done with patient safety and wellbeing as a priority, while also supporting the NHS to provide the best service it can.”
“The NHS is responsible for using public funds in the most effective and sustainable way possible. Switching medicines allows us to make substantial savings, which can be reinvested into other services and new treatments.
To find out more about switching medications and the ‘Make the switch’ campaign, visit the NHS Cheshire and Merseyside website: www.cheshireandmerseyside.nhs.uk/MakeTheSwitch