Maltese patients consume a higher amount of medicines than in other countries in Europe, according to a study by the Mediterranean Institute of Primary Care. The study also found that compared to other countries, doctors in Malta have a higher tendency to prescribe, and pharmacists give medicines without prescriptions.

In Malta and Sweden, younger doctors have a higher tendency than older ones to prescribe medicines without having “well-documented evidence” that patients need them, the study found. The number of prescribed medicines consumed was also found to differ according to gender in Malta, with women taking an average of three medications over six months and men two.

Full story in The Times of Malta and the e-paper on timesofmalta.com.