DRUGS CONSUMPTION IN KOSOVO AND IMPACT IN THE SOCIAL LIFE OF POPULATION

Drug consumption in Kosovo is a research analysis published by Kosovo Medicines Agency where it is described for all the drugs the consumption during three year period 2011-2013 based on WHO methodology. The analysis is based on two main indicators which are consumption according to Defined Daily Doses per inhabitant per day (DID) and in monetary value. As it has a three year reference it is also a very good analysis for comparing the trend of prescribing from the health professionals. Kosovo is one of the poorest countries in Europe with only 2.6% of GDP dedicated for health and with the reports showing that in 2010-2013 a significant percentage of drugs were from the grey market. On the other hand the analysis of the drug consumption for 2014 in Kosovo shows that there is an increase of the consumption while there was no epidemics or increase in the significant numbers of the morbidity. This paper analyses factors that influence this increase in the consumption and the impact in the social life of the population in Kosovo in the time period 2011- 2014. The main results of this analysis show that changes in legislation play a crucial role in this increase because the registration procedures are facilitated and also the import license procedures are facilitated as well which in turn made the increase of the imports of the legal chain hence decreasing significantly the illegal chain. This in turn is changing also the perception of the population for the Kosovo Medicines Agency while there is a gain of trust with the belief of the increase of the quality, efficacy and safety of medicines as well.