Targeting Adherence: Improving Patient Outcomes in Europe through Community Pharmacist's Intervention

At a time where some voices point out to a  “prescription pill epidemic”, on one hand, and to “under-treatment of patients with medicines” as costing billions of euros to EU health systems, on the other hand, it is worth asking where policies promoting the rational use of medicines and the improvement of patients’ adherence to therapies stand. 

The cost of non-adherence can be calculated both in terms of generating additional costs for healthcare systems due to misuse or non-use of medicines leading to further treatment or even hospitalisation, and by simply wasting resources through the non-use of prescribed medicines funded by healthcare systems.

It has been estimated that there are 194,500 deaths a year in the EU due to miss-dose and non-adherence of prescribed medication. Non adherence is estimated to cost the European Union 125 billion Euro annually.

It is not difficult to conclude that action is needed. An appropriate balance between health, social, and economic policies, as well as multiprofessional and interinstitutional efforts is critical.

PGEU presented this booklet on the 13 May at the European Parliament on the occasion of a lunchtime debate to discuss the topic with MEPs, representatives of patients’, consumers’, and health professionals’ organisations and of the Pharmaceutical industry, prominent researchers as well as some of Europe’s pharmacy leaders.

To download the booklet, please click here