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Croatian Medical Journal, Vol. 53 No. 1, 2012.

Original scientific paper

Pharmacy network and access to medicines in selected eastern European countries: comparative analysis

Dragana Lakić ; University of Belgrade, Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Social Pharmacy and Pharmacy Legislation, Belgrade, Serbia
Ljiljana Tasić ; University of Belgrade, Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Social Pharmacy and Pharmacy Legislation, Belgrade, Serbia
Mitja Kos ; Chair for Social Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
Guenka Petrova ; Department of Social Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Sofia, Sofia, Bulgaria
Assena Stoimenova ; Department of Social Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Sofia, Sofia, Bulgaria
Dušanka Krajnović ; University of Belgrade, Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Social Pharmacy and Pharmacy Legislation, Belgrade, Serbia

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Abstract

Aim To analyze the pharmacy network (structure and resources)
in Bulgaria, Croatia, Serbia, and Slovenia and its relation
to public expenditures for medicines.
Methods We performed a cross-sectional study using the
officially published data for the period 2003-2008 in four
selected countries. Data sources were relevant national institutions.
Results In 2008, Serbia had 27.5, Bulgaria 66.8, Croatia
59.5, and Slovenia 71.2 pharmacists per 100 000 inhabitants.
There was a significant difference in the number of
pharmacists per 100 000 inhabitants between all countries
except between Bulgaria and Slovenia. The number
of inhabitants per one pharmacy was significantly different
between all observed countries. The expenditures for
medicines per capita in 2008 were between €30.34 in Bulgaria
to €137.03 in Slovenia, with a significant difference
between all countries except between Bulgaria and Serbia.
The number of pharmacists per 100 000 inhabitants and
expenditures for medicines per capita were positively correlated
in all observed countries, except in Bulgaria.
Conclusion There were significant difference in the structure
and availability of the pharmacy service in all selected
countries. Expenditures for medicines were positively correlated
with the number of pharmacists in all countries,
except in Bulgaria. Our findings could be valuable to national
regulatory bodies for the creation of national drug
policies.

Keywords

Hrčak ID:

82894

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/82894

Publication date:

15.2.2012.

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