During the presentation day of the 2008 OsMed Report, particular attention was paid to medicines dispensed through public structures, the total expenditure of which is equal to 5.6 billion euros, approximately a quarter of the total expenditure on medicines in 2008.
The analysis also shows an average per capita consumption of one and a half doses a day, equal to 24.4 billion euros of which 75% reimbursed by the NHS, 60% more than in 2000. All therapeutic categories, with the exception of respiratory system and antineoplastic drugs, recorded an increase in prescribed doses compared to 2007.
The analysis relating to the prescribing attitudes of General Medicine (cardiovascular, thromboembolic pathologies, peptic ulcers and gastroesophageal reflux, osteoporosis, use of broad-spectrum antibiotics) was also discussed and deepened. Finally, the co-prescription of drugs with potential risk of clinically relevant drug interactions emerged (1.8/1000 patients are prescribed statins associated with imidazole derivatives and 25.5 per 1000 with amiodarone).
