Albanians first in Europe for drug consumption

5.4 percent of healthcare spending, Albanian families spend it on drugs. The rest are for medical attention.

The report is overturned in other European countries, where drug expenses cover only 7-15 percent of healthcare spending.

The figures highlight the culture of high consumption of drugs that exist in Albanian. Not simply because of the doctor's recommendation but also because many drugs can be bought at the pharmacy without the doctor's prescription.

This makes the Albanian population have a very high level of costs for medicine. The rate of drug consumption is growing even though the population is moving toward contraction.

In the first eight months of this year, 3374 tonnes of pharmaceutical products, or $15.9 billion, were imported, reports the Monitor. Compared to last year, drug import has increased by 7%, which means Albanians have consumed more medicines for this year. The factors that contribute to consumer growth are some; since the age of the population, drug resistance due to excessive use and increased disease.

Pharmacists acknowledge that immunity to drugs is on the rise. Frequent use increases resistance, as a result, the sufferer needs to consume many medications. Uncontrolled foods, or sedentary life, have also contributed to lowering the body's response to virtues. The Institute of Public Health has found through an investigation that antibiotics are obtained in 24 percent of cases without medical recipes. Taking antibiotics in this way has made many of them resistant to their actions.

In particular, 73% of individuals wrongly considered that throat pains can be treated with antibiotics. Moreover, 69% of participants claimed that common colds and flu should be addressed with antibiotics. Also, 41% and 34% of individuals consider the use of antibiotics for general body and head pain appropriate.