THE FACTORS INFLUENCING THE SELECTION OF COMMUNITY PHARMACIES IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC: A COMPREHENSIVE ANALYSIS
Gaddam Swetha Reddy
Asst. Professor, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Princeton College of Pharmacy, Hyderabad, Telangana, India
Ajmeera Rajya Laxmi
Asst. Professor, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Princeton College of Pharmacy, Hyderabad, Telangana, India
Abstract - To find out what factors Czech citizens considered when choosing a community pharmacy and how their behavior changed between 2011 and 2013. A sociological survey of the Czech population over the age of 15 using a sample that is representative in terms of age, gender, and region (the sample deviation from the Czech Republic's population breakdowns is less than 0.2 percent). The anonymous questionnaires were administered in the Czech Republic (CR) from 21 November to 4 December 2011 and from 18 November to 6 December 2013, following preliminary research with 228 respondents in 2011 and 228 in 2013. SASD 1.4.5 (Statistical Analysis of Social Data) was used for all statistical analyses.
The information were gotten from an example of 1797 people haphazardly chosen utilizing shares. In 2011, the response rate was 90%, and in 2013, it was 86%. The location (proximity) is the primary factor in deciding which community pharmacy to choose in CR. Considerably less significance put on great help (individual involvement in proficient methodology) or great cost (lower costs and advancement on medications). It was observed that prices gradually increased in importance at the expense of other factors. P 0.001 is the statistical significance level for each result.
For the majority of citizens, choosing a pharmacy in a convenient location is a crucial factor. It was noted that more people are choosing their pharmacies primarily based on price. For them, the decision to buy medicine is becoming more and more important, and a lower price is more important than a good pharmacy service.
Keywords: Pharmaceutical care, pharmacy competition, the Czech Republic's health care system, and pharmacy choice.
1 INTRODUCTION
In addition to improving the competitiveness of individual pharmaceutical care providers, strengthening the relationship between pharmacists and patients is a long-term effort that will result in successful pharmacotherapy. In the Czech Republic (CR), the pharmaceutical care provider can be
changed at will. There is no requirement to register in a particular pharmacy. Patients pay low participation (out-of-pocket payments, copayments) in addition to public health insurance in the Czech health care system, which covers the majority of costs. Among the 34 economically most developed
countries in the world that make up the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), CR allocates one of the largest portions of its national budget to funding public health. Patient behavior was affected by reforms that were implemented and funded in the Czech health care system over the past decade. However, private expenditures remain at just 16%, which is still among the lowest among OECD nations.
The competition between community pharmacies in CR is also growing as there are more of them. In CR, non-price competition (an effort to improve service quality) and price competition (lower drug prices and copays) are still present. Some functional enhancements of pharmacy services appear to be helped along by competition.
There is muddled framework in guideline by greatest costs and repayment of medications in CR. In the CR, EU states still do not have uniform copayments that are fixed, predictable, or consistent. In many instances, the pressure on non-price competition and the suppression of price competition were observed, as was the significance of price regulation in the health system.
Community pharmacy deregulation and free market principles may have unintended consequences, according to surveys from other nations: Some vertically integrated pharmacy chains may form oligopolies that tend to dominate the market and align product offerings with those of their suppliers; The workload of
shortage of pharmacy staff, which may result in a decrease in counseling quality; pharmacists may be more likely to focus on business goals than public health ones as a result of economic pressure.
The current state of competition among community pharmacies in CR as well as the factors that influence it can be learned from our investigation into the factors that Czech citizens consider when choosing a community pharmacy and the emergence of behavioral shifts between 2011 and 2013.
A sociological survey of the Czech population over the age of 15 using a sample that is representative in terms of age, gender, and region (the sample deviation from the Czech Republic's population breakdowns is less than 0.2 percent). The anonymous questionnaires were administered in the Czech Republic (CR) from 21 November to 4 December 2011 and from 18 November to 6 December 2013, following preliminary research with 228 respondents in 2011 and 228 in 2013. SASD 1.4.5 (Statistical Analysis of Social Data) was used for all statistical analyses, with a significance level of P 0.001.
A semi-open question was used in the research to investigate the factors that influence pharmacy selection: What factors do you consider most important when choosing a pharmacy? The choices for responses were "good location," "good service," "good price," "no preference,"
and "another factor," according to preliminary research. “Good service”
experience, the opportunity to discuss personal health concerns, and additional pharmacy services. "Good location" refers to the closest pharmacy and its accessibility. "Good Price" omits discounts, medicine promotions, frequent-buyer programs,
and cheaper prices. Only one response was available to respondents, and this was thought to be the most important factor in their decision. Table 1 contains comprehensive results.
Table 1 Priority determinants of the choice of community pharmacy for different groups of the Czech population (in percentage, P<0.01 for each).
Where a large number of significant differences between populations can be distinguished. See Chart 1 for changes in the graphical expression and differences between the dominant factors.
Area and accessibility of drug store is a vital determinant for the biggest piece of residents, albeit this strength diminished in the second review by practically 22%. As the primary cause of this decline, a notable increase in the number of citizens who choose their pharmacy primarily based on price and prefer a lower price over other factors was identified. The growth during that
time was even higher than 41 percent, and the lower price became an increasingly important factor in their decision. Priority factor "personal experience," such as satisfaction with pharmacy services provided by staff, decreased by 18% over the course of the study, which cannot be considered a positive trend toward strengthening patient-pharmacist relationships. Long-term policy monitoring and evaluation should go along with the implementation of policy measures, and similar studies should continue in the following periods as well.
Chart 1 Priority determinants of the choice of community pharmacy in 2011 (inner circle) and 2013 (outer circle).
2 METHODS
A sociological survey of the Czech population over the age of 15 using a sample that is representative in terms of age, gender, and region (the sample deviation from the Czech Republic's population breakdowns is less than 0.2 percent). The anonymous questionnaires were administered in the Czech Republic (CR) from 21 November to 4 December 2011 and from 18 November to 6 December 2013, following preliminary research with 228 respondents in 2011 and 228 in 2013. SASD 1.4.5 (Statistical Analysis of Social Data) was used for all statistical analyses.
3 RESULTS
Using quotas, a sample of 1797 people was selected at random to obtain the data. In 2011, the response rate was 90%, and in 2013, it was 86%. The location (proximity) is the primary factor in deciding which community pharmacy to choose in CR. Considerably less significance put on great help (individual involvement in proficient methodology) or great
prices gradually increased in importance at the expense of other factors. P 0.001 is the statistical significance level for each result.
4 CONCLUSION
For the majority of citizens, choosing a pharmacy in a convenient location is a crucial factor. It was noted that more people are choosing their pharmacies primarily based on price.
For them, the decision to buy medicine is becoming more and more important, and a lower price is more important than a good pharmacy service.
REFERENCES
1. Act on health services and the terms and conditions for the providing of such services (The Act on Healthcare Services).
2011 Czech Republic.
2. The Czech Statistical Office. Statistics Us:
Monthly Czech Statistical Office. 2010, Prague.
3. Krutilova V and Yaya S. Unexpected impact of changes in out-of-pocket payments for health care on Czech household budgets. Health policy. 2012;
107: 276-288.
4. Institute of Health Information and
5. Martins L and Queiros S. Competition among pharmacies and the typology of services delivered: The Portuguese case.
Health Policy. 2015; 119:640-647.
6. Davidova J, et al. Pricing and reimbursement of pharmaceuticals in the Czech Republic and Sweden. Pharmacy World & Science. 2007; 30:57-64.
7. Vogler S and Habimana K. Does deregulation in community pharmacy impact accessibility of medicines, quality of pharmacy services and costs? Evidence from nine European countries. Health Policy. 2014; 117:311-327.
