Abstract

PATIENTS, PHARMACISTS AND PHYSICIANS VIEWS ON THE USE OF OVER-THE-COUNTER-DRUGS. A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS

Antoaneta Tsvetkova, Anna Todorova, Valentina Petkova*

ABSTRACT

Overconfident consumer decisions, unequal or limited access to health care services and related pharmaceutical services, economic disparities and financial constraints are the factors that underlie the ever increasing number of Bulgarian patients who seek self-medication – mainly by means of non-prescription medicines (OTC drugs), nutritional supplements, bioactive food components and medicinal herbs. This entails a weaker and less trustful relationship between patients, pharmacists and physicians. Increased sales of nonprescription medicines and nutritional supplements are underpinned by prevailing public attitudes towards these products as adjunct medications and first-line treatment of acute and chronic diseases, as well as by public‟s heightened awareness of the importance of overall health and well-being. A survey conducted by Booz & Company shows that 240 million people buy OTC drugs each year; 60 million of those consumers do not seek a medical consultation or a treatment by a specialist. As a result, the availability and the use of OTC drugs create significant value – $ 102 billion in yearly savings for the U.S. health care system, e.g. every dollar spent on OTC medicines saves $ 6-7.

Keywords: Self-medication, pharmaceutical market, adverse drug reaction (ADR), health.