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| Authors | M Zarb Adami A Serracino Inglott L M Azzopardi |
| Abstract | The aim of the study was to assess the patients perception of the cost of medicines received free from the Government Pharmaceutical Services in Malta. In Malta the Government pharmaceutical service provides free medication, both prescription-only medicines and non-prescription medicines, to patients eligible for this service. Interviews were carried out with patients who collected their medicines from five Government pharmacies to compile information on the medicine(s) collected from Government pharmacies, the quantity collected and the patients perception of the cost of the medicine(s) collected. The Wilcoxon test was undertaken using the Biomedical Data Package software to test for correlation between the perceived and actual cost of medicines. From the five Government pharmacies, 360 patients (184 male, 176 female, mean age 67 years, age range 23-93 years) agreed to participate in this study. The mean perceived cost of medicines collected and the actual cost of medicines for the whole sample (n=360) were US$20.54 and US$38.23 respectively. The Wilcoxon test showed that there was a significant difference between the perceived and the actual cost of medicines (p<0.05). When the test was undertaken for each of the five Government pharmacies, there was a significant difference between the perceived and the actual cost of medicines (p<0.05) for all pharmacies except one pharmacy (n=31, p=0.117). Patients receiving free medication perceive a lower cost for the medicines they are receiving. This implies that these individuals cannot appreciate the high cost of pharmaceutical services being met by the tax payers. Patient education on the appropriate cost of medicines may improve the demands on the service as well as impact on patient compliance. |
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| Journal | Malta Medical Journal |
| Volume | Volume 15 (suppl) |
| Pages | - |
| Date | |
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| Key words | patient perceived cost, free medication, pharmacy |