Re: Pharmacies boycott drug distribution, By Martina Pisárová, Nov 18-23, Vol 9 No 44
There are over 1,100 pharmacies in Slovakia for a population of 5.4 million people. I think this is too many. Furthermore, there is a tradition in this part of Europe that when you go to a doctor, you expect him or her to give you a prescription for some medicine, even if you just have the flu or a cold. If the doctor does not give you one, (s)he is a bad doctor. And with patients covering a small percentage of the medicine price, no wonder the Slovak healthcare system is under heavy pressure.
I think there should be two kinds of patients: those with chronic diseases, who need medicine regularly, and those who are healthy and only need medicine occasionally. The latter should pay a lot more for medicine than they do now.
Jesper, Denmark
