(ANSA) - ROME, NOV 12 - The share of pharmaceutical expenses
shouldered by Italian citizens grew by 9.8% in 2023 compared to
the previous year, data from medicine agency Aifa showed on
Tuesday.
Italians spent 7.1 billion euros with costs driven up by a rise
in medicine prices and the prescription of more expensive drugs,
Aifa said in its 2023 Osmed study.
Overall, 54% of expenses (3.8 billion eurs) concerned
prescription medicines with the remaining 46% over-the-counter
medicines.
The report on the use of pharmaceuticals in Italy said the most
commonly purchased prescription drugs paid for by consumers
included benzodiazepines, oral contraceptives and medication to
treat erectile dysfunction for which 250 million euros were
spent last year. (ANSA).