Only 22% of Russians have enough money to purchase medicine.
MOSCOW, November 1, 2010. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the data about the results of the survey devoted to the specifics of the consumption of medications by Russians.
Fifty-four percent of Russians use medications from time to time: every fifth use medications regularly (20%), one-quarter (34%) - from time to time. Most of those who consume medications are women rather than men (64% versus 42%), Russians aged above 45 (64-84%), and those with low level of income (68%).
The overwhelming majority of medications (88%) are purchased for personal savings, provided that for many Russians (77%) cost of medications seems to be quite expensive: 58% assess the cost as being substantial, and 19% report they do not even have money to buy medications they need (30% of such respondents among constant medications` consumers). Only 22% of Russians can easily afford medicine.
Russians get information about medicine from experts such as physicians (62%), pharmacists (37%), doctors who they are familiar with (12%). Only 10% and 1% respectively put attention to the advertising in the Internet.
Most of respondents are in favor of domestically produced medicine: the shares of those who use Russians medicine to treat mild or serious diseases are 37% and 27% respectively. Foreign medicine is chosen by 14% and 19% respectively. At the same time, the country of production does not matter for 37% of medicine consumers in case of mild disease and for 35% - in case of serious disease.
Those who prefer domestic medicine do so because they just like Russian medicine (39%). Besides, they choose Russian medicine because it is reliable and safe (27%), and have affordable price (12%). Only 5% of respondents point out high quality of Russian medicine.
Those who are in favor of foreign medicine mention quality (27%). Besides, 18% think foreign medicine is safe, 11% - more effective. Twenty-five percent of respondents use only foreign medicine.
The initiative Russian opinion polls were conducted on October 9-10, 2010. 1600 respondents were interviewed at 138 sampling points in 46 regions of Russia. The marginof error does not exceed 3.4%.
Do you take medication? If yes, how often? (close-ended question, one answer) | ||||||
| Total | Age | ||||
Men | Aged 18-24 | Aged 25-34 | Aged 35-44 | Aged 45-59 | ||
Often | 20 | 13 | 5 | 8 | 8 | 19 |
From time to time | 34 | 29 | 22 | 30 | 36 | 45 |
Almost never | 45 | 57 | 71 | 62 | 53 | 35 |
Hard to tell | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
Which medicine do you often use? (close-ended question, one answer) | ||||
| Total | Financial self-assessment | ||
Very good, good | Average | Very bad, bad | ||
I have the right to buy subsidized medicine; most of the time I buy subsidized medicine | 11 | 5 | 10 | 15 |
I have the right to buy subsidized medicine but I prefer to buy medicine for my own money | 12 | 8 | 11 | 14 |
I do not have the right to buy subsidized medicine; most of the time I buy the medicine prescribed by my doctor | 39 | 44 | 38 | 43 |
I do not have the right to buy subsidized medicine; most of the time I buy medicine not prescribed by physician | 37 | 40 | 40 | 28 |
Hard to tell | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
How would you assess your financial ability to purchase medicine? (close-ended question, one answer) | |||
| Total respondents | Purchasing medicine | |
Subsidized medicine | Medicine purchased for your own money | ||
I can afford any medicine needed | 21 | 10 | 22 |
I can buy all the medicine I need but the cost is quite high for me | 58 | 56 | 58 |
I feel the lack of money even when I buy the medicine I need | 19 | 25 | 19 |
Hard to tell | 2 | 9 | 1 |
Where do you get the information about medications? (close-ended question, not more than two answers) | |
From physicians, at hospitals | 62 |
From pharmacists, at drugstores | 37 |
From relatives, friends | 17 |
From relatives or friends of doctors | 12 |
Advertisement (TV, radio, advertising information) | 10 |
Internet | 1 |
Other | 2 |
Hard to tell | 2 |
Does the country of production (domestic or foreign) matter to you when choosing medicine to treat mild diseases? (close-ended question, one answer) | ||||
| Total respondents | Financial self-assessment | ||
Very good, good | Average | Bad, very bad | ||
Yes, the country matters; I prefer domestic medicine | 37 | 31 | 37 | 39 |
Yes, the country matters; I prefer foreign medicine | 14 | 21 | 15 | 9 |
It does not matter to me | 37 | 40 | 37 | 37 |
I do not have mild diseases | 2 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
Hard to tell | 10 | 8 | 9 | 11 |
Does the country of production (domestic or foreign) matter to you when choosing medicine to treat serious diseases? (close-ended question, one answer) | ||||
| Total respondents | Financial self-assessment | ||
Very good, good |
| Very good, good | ||
Yes, the country matters; I prefer domestic medicine | 27 | 20 | 26 | 32 |
Yes, the country matters; I prefer foreign medicine | 19 | 23 | 21 | 15 |
It does not matter to me | 35 | 36 | 35 | 35 |
I do not have diseases | 6 | 5 | 7 | 5 |
Hard to tell | 13 | 16 | 12 | 13 |
All other things being equal, I would prefer domestic medicine which is ... (open-ended question, any number of answers) | |
| Total respondents |
Domestic | 39 |
More reliable, safe; fewer fakes, stricter control | 27 |
Lower prices | 12 |
Higher quality | 5 |
More effective | 3 |
I depends on the medicine | 1 |
Less harmful to health, fewer side effects, useful | 1 |
Familiar to me | 3 |
Hard to tell | 15 |
All other things being equal, I would prefer foreign medicine which is ... (open-ended question, any number of answers) | |
| Total respondents |
Higher quality | 27 |
Foreign | 25 |
More reliable, safe; fewer fakes, stricter control | 18 |
More effective | 11 |
Popular and easy to find | 2 |
Prescribed by the doctor | 2 |
Less harmful to health, fewer side effects, useful | 1 |
Hard to tell | 15 |
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