Citizens' share of medicine costs rises 66% in 5 years

(ANSA) - Rome, July 21 - The share of pharmaceutical expenses shouldered by Italian citizens has grown 66 percent in the past five years, data from medicine agency Aifa showed on Tuesday.
    Aifa Director-General Luca Pani said the rise between 2010 and 2014 was partly due to the increase in regional fees, but also because people prefer to pay the difference between prescribed generic drugs and branded medicines.
    Presenting a report on the use of pharmaceuticals in Italy in 2014, Pani said the share of medicinal expenses that citizens bear has grown 4.5 percent just in the past year.
    Meanwhile over the past five years the share of pharmaceutical purchases shouldered by the national health service has fallen 10 percent.