Citizens on Drug Policy

The intention of the Ministry of Health to introduce uniform prices for the same medicaments in various pharmacies was agreed with by 76 % and disagreed with by 13 % of citizens. 11 % did not have an opinion. Uniform prices of medicaments were more often supported by people over 60 years of age, citizens with secondary education and the population with a poor standard of living. From the point of view of political preferences, these are predominantly supporters of the Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia and Czech Social Democrats. Respondents, who prefer uniform prices of the same medicaments, consider the Ministry of Health to be the most suitable guarantor of these prices (40 %). Others suggested the union of patients (16 %), the medical chamber (14 %) or health insurance companies (10 %). The chamber of pharmacists was recommended by 6 % and Parliament by 3 %. The last surveys show that about two thirds of citizens (today 62 %) are not enabled by physicians to choose between more expensive and cheaper types of medicaments. Positive experience was voiced by 23 % of respondents, 9 % disclosed that they did not go to doctors and 6 % did not know.