FRENCH PRESCRIPTION SPENDING HIGHEST IN EUROPE

Spending on prescriptions in France proved to be the highest in Europe, according to a recent four-nation study conducted for the CNAM health fund. Industry sources attribute the result to the traditionally high prescription volume in France. Ninety percent of doctor-patient consultations in France end with a prescription, compared to 83% in Spain, 72% in Germany and 43.2% in the Netherlands.

The study points out that French patients do not consult doctors more frequently than in other European countries, but that, they rarely leave without a prescription. The report also reveals that 46% of French doctors claim they have been pressured by patients to prescribe. Under France's healthcare system, patients are entitled to visit as many specialists as they like. Therefore, if one physician will not prescribe, patients can shop around until they find one who will.

Recent health reforms have sought to curb over-prescribing. The government's aim is for 50% of the population to retain a single family doctor as their "treating doctor." It is hoped the measure will achieve up to EUR1bn (US$1.21bn) worth of savings in treatment and prescribing costs although it is yet to be seen whether this target is realistic.

France has implemented a number of cost-containment policies in recent months in a bid to cut annual drug spending by EUR2.1bn (US$1.21bn). Measures have included price-cuts, increases in generic provision and the introduction of a 2.2% limit on healthcare reimbursement growth.