Background: Accessibility and affordability of medicines are key for patients’ effective treatment. However, drug prices are soaring, and patients are looking for cheaper medications in Europe and beyond. This study aimed to evaluate European pharmacists’ perceptions and attitudes about the impact of global inflation and the military conflict setting in Ukraine on patients’ buying medicines behaviours. A secondary objective comprised the problem of buying medicines from illegal online sources like social media or non-regulated marketplaces.

Methods: An observational cross-sectional study was conducted from April 2023 to April 2024 using an anonymous and self-designed questionnaire consisting of 11 questions. The survey was created using Google Forms. The survey link was shared mostly by e-mail amongst practising pharmacists from five European countries.

Results: Events of the recent years, such as inflation, the COVID-19 pandemic, or the war in Ukraine were perceived by the pharmacists as contributing to patients looking for better medicines prices, mostly related to online purchases. The most important factors influencing online purchase of medicines beyond price were convenience of shopping anytime, and fast and free delivery. There is a perceived growing interest in buying medicines from online facilities other than e-pharmacies, such as local websites, social media or global marketplaces (e.g., aliexpress.com). Pharmacists do not actively inform their patients about the possible risks of buying medicines from unverified online sources.

Conclusion: International disruptions seem to contribute to patients’ looking for better prices of medicines. There is a need for societal education about the risks related to the possibility of counterfeited medicines online, as well as pharmacists’ training to prioritize patient information and counselling on the hazards of medication acquisition from non e-pharmacies. There is an urgent need for global amendments to the pharmaceutical law to protect patients from illegal e-sources of medicines while keeping in-person services and offline purchases.

Abstract

Introduction: The aim of our study was to conduct a comparative analysis of the opinions of pharmaceutical professionals and senior students of pharmaceutical faculties of Ukraine and Poland on awareness of the "ten-star pharmacist" concept.

Methods: An anonymous survey was conducted among Ukrainian and Polish pharmaceutical workers (n = 614 and n = 209) and students (n = 516 and n = 475). The analyzed period in Ukraine was February-April 2020, in Poland - June-September 2020.

Results: This study revealed differences of opinion between the respondents and a lack of proper knowledge about the above concept. On the one hand, they have a high level of awareness of some professional roles, but on the other part, the rest of them cause hesitation and lack of affirmative opinion.

Conclusions: Inadequate awareness of professional roles indicates the need to create effective mechanisms for implementing the "ten-star pharmacist" concept in the practical and educational systems of both countries.