Abstract
Improper use and over-consumption of antibiotics have direct implications on the health of individuals as well as indirect consequences impacting limited health care budgets of countries. There is scarce evidence on the determinants of medicine and antibiotic consumption for developing nations. We examine the relationship between family medicine and physician-prescribed antibiotic consumption over the years. We use nationally representative Turkey's Health Surveys for the years 2008 through 2012. We employ a multivariate regression analysis by implementing the Ordinary Least Squares method to understand the factors which determine prescribed antibiotic and medicine use. Findings indicate that antibiotic utilization trend declines in 2010 and continue falling in 2012 as well compared to 2008. We also find that visiting family medicine increases the probability of antibiotic utilization, which is inconsistent with the aim of the Health Transformation Program. However, the positive relationship between the family medicine visit and antibiotic use weakened over the years. Although Turkey took several measures and succeeded to reduce antibacterial resistance to some extent, antibiotics are still the most resorted drug type among therapeutic groups.
Highlights
Antibiotics have saved many lives in treating diseases caused by bacteria since they were first discovered
We have demonstrated a significant and positive association between family medicine visits and antibiotic consumption, which indicates easy access to primary care health centers that are scaled up in 2010 throughout Turkey
Our results show that family medicine visits are associated with less prescribed antibiotics consumption over the years
Summary
Antibiotics have saved many lives in treating diseases caused by bacteria since they were first discovered. Turkey introduced the HTP in 2003 intending to announce Universal Health Coverage (UHC) to provide its citizens with a more equitable, protective, and quality health care system (Atun et al, 2013: 65) The UHC offers individuals, irrespective of their ability to pay, to obtain the necessary treatment. Both supply- and demand-side reforms led to an increase in access to health care services and pharmaceuticals (Stokes et al, 2015). While only 66.3% of the population was covered by health insurance in 2003, this figure increased significantly to 95% in 2016
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