Doctors admit that they are limited and even reproached by their chiefs if they prescribe too many compensated drugs, especially expensive ones. A study by the Center for Health Policies and Studies (PAS Center) shows that some of the doctors prescribe compensated drugs selectively, IPN reports.
In some settlements, the budget for covering the costs of compensated drugs is very small and the institution managers exert pressure on the employees so that these do not prescribe expensive drugs. A family doctor said the hepatic medicines were a real problem as the family doctors were reprimanded if they prescribed these.
Owing to the limited budgetary resources, fewer young people received compensated drugs. When deciding whom to prescribe compensated drugs, the doctors choose elderly people because these either experience financial difficulties or are better informed about their rights and demand they these should be respected. One respondent, a doctor from a rural area, admitted that he decides whom to prescribe compensated drugs depending on how the patient looks. “If the person has golden rings and other jewels, I do not prescribe such drugs to them as they have money to purchase medicines themselves,” said the doctor.
The selective prescription of compensated drugs is proved also by the answers given by the interviewed patients. Asked why they didn’t use compensated medicines, 39% of these said the doctor didn’t prescribe such drugs to them, 18% said they didn’t know that they can benefit from such drugs, 16% said they thought compensated drugs are not prescribed for their disease, while 5% invoked other reasons.
The study covered a representative sample of 2,217 persons who took medicines during the last six months. There were also interviewed family doctors, managers of primary medical institutions, druggists and functionaries.
