The total consumption of medicines at the expense of the state and from citizens' pockets last year amounted to about 171,8 million euros, which is about 26,3 million more than in 2022.
This is shown in the report on the consumption of medicines for 2023, compiled by the Montenegrin Institute for Medicines and Medical Devices (CInMED) based on data, i.e. reports on the sales of 14 private and one state-owned wholesale drugstore.
"Comparing data on drug consumption from 2023 with data from the previous one, an increase in drug consumption was recorded. "The consumption of drugs in the category of defined daily doses per 1.000 inhabitants per day increased by 5,37 percent, and a financial increase of 18,13 percent was recorded," the report states.
Data from wholesalers show that last year 1.360,13 daily doses of medicine were consumed per 1.000 inhabitants per day. About 34 percent of all used drugs in that category refer to drugs for the treatment of the cardiovascular system. 462,37 daily doses of those drugs were consumed per 1.000 inhabitants. Medicines for the treatment of the alimentary tract and metabolism follow with 18,22 percent of participation, then medicines for the treatment of diseases of the blood and hematopoietic organs with 13,80 percent, medicines that affect the nervous system with 10,49 percent... Then, the most used are medicines for diseases of the musculoskeletal system with 7,32 percent of the total consumption, and medications that affect the respiratory system with about six percent.
The most used drug that citizens bought in pharmacies is acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin) for pain relief and lowering body temperature, followed by cholecalciferol (vitamin D3) and pantoprazole to reduce gastric acid secretion, while diclofenac is in fifth place. In hospital consumption, enoxaparin sodium - a drug that prevents the formation of blood clots, pantoprazole, then denosumab for the treatment of conditions associated with bone loss - was the most consumed.
"In 2023, an increase in drug consumption was recorded in almost all groups of drugs, except for drugs for the treatment of diseases of the blood and hematopoietic organs and sensory organs," according to CInMED.
The most significant financial increase in 2023 compared to 2022 was recorded in the category of medicines for the treatment of the respiratory system, by 67,64 percent.
"The significant increase in the consumption of this group of drugs is largely the result of the purchase of two drugs for the treatment of cystic fibrosis (ivacaftor, tezacaftor, elexacaftor and ivacaftor), whose consumption in 2023 amounted to about 4,67 million euros," CInMED points out.
Apart from that group of medicines, a significant financial increase was also found in medicines for the treatment of the musculoskeletal system (39,81 percent), where the largest increase was recorded in the subgroup of medicines other medicines for the treatment of diseases of the musculoskeletal system, specifically the drug risdipla. It is a medicine against spinal muscular dystrophy. It is a rare but progressive and fatal neuromuscular disease. The consumption of that medicine increased last year by slightly more than ten times compared to 2022.
"An increase in consumption was also recorded in the group of drugs for the treatment of the nervous system (22,94 percent), followed by antineoplastics and immunomodulators by 24,37 percent. An increase in consumption was also recorded by the groups of drugs for the treatment of skin and subcutaneous tissue (18,68 percent), followed by drugs from the group other drugs (17,77 percent), drugs for the treatment of the genitourinary system and sex hormones (13,18 percent), drugs that they affect the cardiovascular system (12,26 percent) and diseases of the digestive system and metabolism (11,62 percent), as well as anti-infective drugs (7,42)…”, states the CInMED report.
The group of medicines that only records a decrease in financial spending in 2023 compared to the previous year is medicines for the treatment of blood and blood-forming organs (7,85 percent).
The most used drug in terms of consumption in euros, for which around 2023 million euros were allocated in 10,9, is pembrolizumab - an immunotherapy drug against cancer. They are followed by pertuzumab and trastuzumab, which are most often used in the treatment of breast cancer with around four million euros, followed by dapagliflozin for the treatment of diabetes, heart failure and kidney disease with around 2,8 million euros.
CInMED previously told "Vijesta" that there are several factors that influence the growth of drug consumption.
"Extending life expectancy and changes in lifestyle lead to an increase in the number of people suffering from chronic diseases, new diseases appear, there is also resistance to existing drugs, and the development and appearance of new drugs on the market. All this together contributes to the increase in the cost of medicines in our country, as well as in other countries, and the growing pressure on existing health resources".
They stated that there is room for rationalization, but that it is necessary for all competent institutions in the health system to take measures to control the irrational prescribing and consumption of medicines.
Bonus video:
