In the European Union, there are an estimated 3.3 million cases of minor ailments per day. Those that patients can, or at least could, handle on their own. In an era of staffing crisis - a phenomenon occurring globally - responsible self-medication is a necessity, bringing powerful benefits to both patients and the system.
Self-healing - What does it look like in Poland?
Published Feb. 15, 2024 09:03
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These are the main findings of the report "The Role of Self-Medication in a Health Value Oriented Care System," prepared by Lazarski University in cooperation with PASMI "Polish Association of Producers of Non-Prescription Drugs."
- In all healthcare systems around the world, self-medication is a trend from which there is no turning back. The medical manpower shortage problem is a global issue, so there should be maximum development throughout the life cycle of the health competencies that underlie the safe management of minor ailments. It has already been calculated that if every patient with every minor ailment came in for a medical consultation, an additional 120,000 GPs would be needed across the EU," said Dr. n. ekon. Malgorzata Galazka-Sobotka, director of the Institute for Healthcare Management at Lazarski University and scientific editor of the report.
This, fortunately, is not the case, and technological progress (easy access to professional information) and systemic solutions (pharmaceutical care, which in Poland is still in the realm of plans) make it easier for patients to solve minor health problems on their own. According to the report, in Europe, 1.2 billion cases of minor ailments are dealt with annually by patients on their own, using over-the-counter medicines, among other things. These practices generate significant savings estimated at nearly €40 billion, while fully exploiting this potential could further reduce the number of visits to family doctors by 10-25 percent, which would translate into additional savings - about €17 billion.
What does this look like in Poland? - Recent data confirm that 55 percent of minor ailments in patients in Poland are addressed as part of their self-care. This makes it possible to start treatment immediately, which leads to a reduction in the severity of symptoms and shortens the time of their occurrence," commented Ewa Jankowska, president of the Board of Directors of the PASMI Employers' Association "Polish Association of Producers of Non-Prescription Drugs.
Self-medication is an opportunity, but it must be based on knowledge and responsibility. That's why experts repeated like a mantra the calls for lifelong health education. - Knowledge of self-care should be available to all citizens, regardless of age or health status. Education must cover different age groups, from kindergarten to senior age. Involved in the work should be both the scientific and patient communities, as well as the industry, which has experience in effectively educating patients," said Professor Iwona Kowalska-Bobko, director of the Institute of Public Health at the Jagiellonian University Collegium Medicum, co-author of the report.
Prof. Agnieszka Mastalerz-Migas, national consultant in family medicine, also stressed that self-medication is an opportunity, but also pointed out that one should not lose sight of its dark side, i.e. attempts to "cure" by means available without consulting a doctor ailments that are in fact symptoms of serious health problems.
