During the first quarter of this year (January - April), citizens sold more than two million prescriptions in pharmacies and received therapy worth around 20,66 million euros.
The Health Insurance Fund (FZO) replied to "Vijesta" that from January to the end of April, 2.074.679 prescriptions were made and 2.805.363 individual packages of medicines were issued through pharmacies, which have a contractual relationship with that institution.
"In the mentioned period, most of the prescriptions/medicines used in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases (treatment of hypertension, insufficiency of the heart muscle, pain therapy in musculoskeletal diseases, treatment of folic acid deficiency (treatment of anemia), anxiety therapy) were realized", they answered from FZO.
According to the data of this institution, the most packages of medicine Concor Cor were issued. ConCor is a drug used in the treatment of chronic cardiac problems - high blood pressure, angina pectoris and moderate to severe insufficiency of the heart muscle.
More than 92.000 packages of this medicine, worth around 150.000 euros, were dispensed in pharmacies during the four months of this year.
Data from the Health Ministry show that the second most consumed drug is Rapten Duo, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug used to relieve pain and inflammatory processes. In third place in terms of consumption is Monopril plus against high blood pressure.
About 46.000 prescriptions were issued for this medicine from January to April, and citizens picked up a total of 55.438 boxes.
Among the top ten medications that are most often prescribed are concor, also a beta blocker, presolol against hypertension, diuretic fursemide, folic acid, as well as bromazepam, which is used in the treatment of anxiety...
The FZO announced that of the total number of drug packages in state Montefarm pharmacies, 1.218.704 were realized, and 1.586.659 in private ones that have a contract with that institution. 898.241 prescriptions were implemented in Montefarm pharmacies, and 1.176.438 in private ones. However, the value of the therapy that was raised in state pharmacies is almost twice as high as in private ones.
Thus, therapy was dispensed in Montefarm pharmacies, which cost 13.652.061 euros, and in all private pharmacies, about seven million.
Last year, citizens spent around 139 million euros on medicines, according to the data of 15 registered drugstores, which were compiled in the report of the Institute for Medicines and Medical Devices.
Last year, the consumption of medicines, both those that are obtained by prescription in pharmacies and those that are purchased, increased by 20 percent compared to 2020, which was marked by the beginning of the covid-19 pandemic.
As in previous years, drugs for the treatment of the cardiovascular system were used the most, and this group of drugs makes up 30 percent of the therapy spent, while the most money was allocated for the treatment of malignant diseases.
The Institute previously told "Vijesta" that the growth in drug consumption is not only our specificity, but is globally present.
"For example, in the countries of the European Union, the annual average increase in drug consumption is about 3,8 percent. The reasons lie in the facts of life expectancy extension and demographic changes, i.e. the aging of the population, which is associated with a higher incidence of certain diseases."
At that time, they explained that the increase in the consumption of drugs is also due to new diseases that are a consequence of the modern lifestyle, the increase in resistance to existing drugs, which leads to the need for the introduction of new therapies, but also to the fact that various preventive programs are being implemented and that diagnostic tests are available today. methods that lead to an increase in the number of detected and treated patients, that is, the introduction of therapy in the earlier stages of the disease.
The FZO announced two years ago that the consumption of medicines per capita is increasing year by year, which includes everything that citizens pay directly from their pockets in pharmacies.
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