The country's primary healthcare provider, EOPYY, is taking a firm stance against overprescribing doctors.
In a recent press conference, Health Minister Adonis Georgiadis announced that the ministry has identified over 100 cases of doctors who appear to be prescribing excessive amounts of medication.
One particularly shocking case involved a doctor who prescribed a staggering 422 different drugs to a single patient.
The minister revealed that these 100 doctors prescribed between 250 and 422 different medicines per patient, with pill quantities ranging from 250 to 1,630.
Mr. Georgiadis emphasized that many of the overprescribing doctors, pharmacies, and patients were connected, suggesting a potential pattern of collusion. He warned that offenders would face consequences for their actions.
The minister provided several examples of the excessive prescriptions, including cases where doctors prescribed hundreds of different drugs to family members, friends, or patients with specific connections. Some of the prescriptions included a wide range of medications, from antibiotics to anti-inflammatory drugs and analgesics.
In response to these findings, EOPYY has taken action by removing the implicated doctors from the electronic prescription system. This measure aims to prevent them from continuing their overprescribing practices.
The minister's announcement highlights the ongoing issue of overprescribing in Greece and the importance of addressing this problem to ensure the effective and responsible use of medications.