One in four Poles cannot afford prescription drugs

Photo: sxc.hu

Grzegorz Kucharewicz, chairman of Poland's Supreme Council of Pharmacists, told Polish Radio that elderly people in particular are liable to forego purchases, owing to costs.

“There are also cases where patients choose and buy only the most important drugs because they don't have the money to buy all the medication prescribed by the doctor,” he told Polish Radio.

Similarly, pharmacists are commonly asked by customers whether they can offer a cheaper equivalent to drugs prescribed by doctors.

Konstanty Radziwill, deputy chairman of Poland's Supreme Medical Council, believes that doctors should take more trouble to assess whether their patients will be able to afford certain medication, and that they should prescribe cheaper alternatives, if they suspect that patients will struggle with bills. (nh)