Spain's Farmaindustria launches a plan to improve patient compliance to their treatments

Spanish trade group Farmaindustria president Antoni Esteve, during the XVI Spanish Pharmaceutical Industry meeting held at the Menéndez Pelayo University in Santander last week, stressed that “it is necessary that our National Healthcare System comes up with a plan for patient adherence to treatment that relies on the engagement with and support of all agents, since this is the only way to combat the lack of adherence to medicine  which creates serious health problems and expensive economic waste.”

On this occasion, not only was the low level of treatment compliance highlighted, but participants also took the time to analyze and debate the foundations of a Plan for Treatment Compliance in which the association, together with scientific societies, experts and patients representatives has been working on for the past months. Their advances were also presented to the healthcare professional societies (Medical Council, Pharmacists Council, Nurses Council), regional health authorities and Spanish Ministry of Health, Social Services and Equity.

The effectiveness and efficiency of a treatment not only lies within the correct prescribing and access guarantee to the medicine, but also within the correct carrying out of treatments. As Farmaindustria’s president pointed out: “This lack of compliance plays an essential role both in the progression of the diseases and their complications. For example, the possible reduction of functional capabilities, the loss of quality of life, the reduction of productive ability or even in an increased mortality rate.”