Madrid,9 of April of 2026

The prescription of biosimilars has been shown to offer the same efficacy, safety, and quality as reference biological medicines.

• Training professionals and value-based prescribing are key to ensuring efficacy, safety, and equity in access to biological treatments.
• The increasing presence of biosimilars in Primary Care reinforces the need for training in this area.

The sustainability of the National Health System (NHS) requires value-based strategies and cost-effectiveness criteria. In this context, biosimilar medicines are presented as a key tool for optimizing healthcare resources and expanding patient access to advanced biological therapies. According to a study from the Complutense University of Madrid According to Professor Manuel García Goñi, promoting its use could generate cumulative savings of up to 22.270 million euros between 2024 and 2030 for the NHS.

Biosimilars are biological medicines that are highly similar to other already authorized medicines—called reference medicines—that have demonstrated the same effectiveness, safety and quality after passing rigorous scientific evaluation processes. Its development occurs when the patent of the original drug expires and allows for the optimization of healthcare system resources, facilitating access to effective biological treatments for more patients and thus contributing to equity within the system.

Promoting the integration of biosimilars in primary care requires a comprehensive approach that combines different strategies. First, it is necessary to strengthen actions to training and awareness aimed at both healthcare professionals and the general public.

In addition, the following are needed coordinated regulatory and management strategies that align Primary Care and the community environment with the hospital setting, also taking into account prescriptions induced from other care environments such as the social and healthcare sector, mutual insurance companies or the private sector.

It is also necessary to strengthen prescribing strategies that facilitate their use, by improving electronic prescribing systems in medical records, incorporating interchangeability alerts and the promotion of the use of biosimilar biologics.

Added to this is the importance of establishing evaluation and incentive mechanismswith indicators of good practices and consistent criteria across administrations. All of this must be accompanied by public policies that promote both the manufacture and use of these medicines, in line with regulatory initiatives such as the Draft Law on Medicines of April 8, 2025.

// Development of biosimilars in Europe and Spain

According to European Medicines Agency (EMA) In Europe, they have been authorized more than 140 biosimilars since 2006all with the same efficacy and safety as the reference biologic medicines. Their use has allowed savings of up to 56.000 billion euros in Europe between 2013 and 2024 according to the report IQVIA Institute...in addition to improving equity and patient access to innovative treatments. Looking ahead to the period 2024-2030The study by the Complutense University of Madrid estimates that the economic impact of biosimilars in Spain could reach 22.270 billion euros in savingsthanks both to the effect of drugs already on the market and to the arrival of new biosimilars to the market.

In Spain, biosimilars are presented as a strategic opportunity to strengthen the sustainability of the National Health System and promote equity in access to biological therapies, as indicated by the Ministry of Health.

// Prescribing from Primary Care

In this context, primary care plays a key role in the adoption of biosimilars, both in prescribing and in patient follow-up. According to Remedios Martín, president of semFYC, “the sustainability of the National Health System depends on strategies that provide value and are supported by cost-effectiveness criteria.” The family physician emphasizes that prescribing should be based on the patient profile. efficacy and safety of the treatments and in the strict guidelines of the EMAAnd remember that biosimilars already have "extensive accumulated clinical experience and the growing confidence of professionals and patients."

Furthermore, the use of biosimilars It also facilitates greater access for patients to biological therapies, especially in chronic pathologies that require prolonged treatments., and reinforces the role of family specialists in the monitoring, continuity of care and shared decision-making with the patient in the management of these treatments.

Although these medications have been available for years, their prescription and use remain a challenge in some healthcare settings.

In this regard, the president of semFYC points out that promoting its use in Primary Care requires action on several fronts: “strengthening the training and awareness of professionals and patients; developing regulatory strategies that align Primary Care, hospital and other care settings; improving electronic prescribing tools; and establishing evaluation and incentive systems based on good practices.”

BioSim's CEO, Encarnación Cruz, highlighted the importance of the collaboration with semFYC. "This is a strategic step to continue working towards increasing awareness of biosimilars within the healthcare system, especially in primary care, where the penetration of these drugs can still be improved."

“Family doctors play a crucial role in the use of biosimilars in primary care, both in terms of their indication and in providing patients with information and reassurance about the use of these medications,” says Cruz. “At BioSim, we believe that training is one of the essential pillars for promoting the appropriate use of these medications. Equipping healthcare professionals with up-to-date knowledge and practical tools is essential to guarantee evidence-based clinical decisions; therefore, joint initiatives such as this training program with semFYC are fundamental.”

Both organizations emphasize that it is essential for all stakeholders to work in a coordinated manner with a common goal: to improve healthcare while ensuring the efficiency of the system.

// Training on biosimilars in Primary Care

In this context, the Spanish Society of Family and Community Medicine (semFYC) and the BioSim association are collaborating on the implementation of a training module on biosimilars aimed at family doctors, within the program APDAY semFYC.

The training is primarily delivered online and included a face-to-face session held on March 19, 2026The first of the year within the program. Its objective is to strengthen professionals' knowledge of the regulation, indications, clinical use and communication with patients regarding biosimilars.

This initiative is part of the actions planned within the framework of the agreement signed by both entities, whose objective is to create strategies for the advice, research and training of biosimilars among Primary Care professionals.