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Aim To analyze utilization of Anti-Parkinsonian drugs in Albania using the Anatomic Therapeutic Chemical Classification-Defined Daily Dose (ATC/DDD methodology), in comparison to the Parkinson's morbidity for the period 2004-2014. Methods The data were assembled from Health Insurance Institute (HII) and analyzed for the period 2004-2014. The consumption of drugs was expressed as some Defined Daily Dose (DDDs) /1000 inhabitants/day. Also, for all the period under study 2004-2014, there also analyzed the data of import and domestic production of drugs, which represent the real consumption of drugs in the country. These data were subsequently involved in a comparative analysis of the utilization data according to the HII. Results The values of consumption of Anti-Parkinsonian drugs were .1.45-1.53 DDD/1000 inhabitants/day respectively in 2004-2014. The combination of levodopa with benserazide has the highest value of prescription 0.47-0.75 DDD/1000 inhabitants/day 2004-2014. On the other hand, the consumption of levodopa+carbidopa is 0.04-0.29 DDD/1000 inhabitants/day 2004-2014. This notable difference probably reflects the pressure and the marketing incentives used by the pharmaceutical companies. Furthermore, it turns out that the consumption of levodopa+benserazide based on HII data is superior to the use of this formulation based on Import data, which cannot be true. This finding probably reflects fictive prescriptions and the entry of drugs by contraband. It also results that a consistent part of Parkinson patients does not benefit from the reimbursement scheme (out-of-pocket expenditure). Conclusions There is only a small increase in the national consumption of Anti-Parkinsonian drugs during these years, but the values remain very low in comparison with other countries. It results that the use of antiparkinsonian drugs flows out of the scheme at the level of around 30%.

Objective: The aim of this paper is to evaluate 6‐year trends in community use of prescribed opioid analgesics in Albania, using the Anatomic Therapeutic Chemical Classification-Defined Daily Dose methodology. Methods: We collected the data from the database of the Health Insurance Institute (HII). Analysis of the data includes the period 2014–2019; also, we analyzed the data of import and domestic production of drugs, which represent the real consumption of drugs in the country. These data were subsequently involved in a comparative analysis of the utilization data according to the HII. Results: We report a 2.5 fold increase in opioid utilization over the study period. The maximal rise in consumption refers to fentanyl, oxycodone, and tramadol. Meanwhile, the maximal values of consumption refer to strong opiate, morphine. We note that around 30% of the consumption of this class flows out of the scheme. Furthermore, around 25% of consumption of morphine and oxycodone flows out of scheme too. Meanwhile, the tramadol consumption runs out of the scheme over 200%. Conclusions: The outcomes indicate that patients in Albania have low access to opioids medications mainly because of low opioids availability. A strong opiophobia among the population and the medical professionals constitutes one of the major impediments for efficient palliative care.

BACKGROUND:Epilepsy is a serious neurological condition requiring sometimes lifelong pharmacological treatment, and continuous specialist monitoring.AIM:To investigate the use of Anti-Epileptic Drugs (AEDs) in epilepsy, with focus on the exposure of AEDs, differences and changes in prescription patterns over time; to evaluate the relation between the consumption data of AED and the level of epileptic morbidity for the period 2004-2016.STUDY DESIGN:Official data regarding the consumption of AEDs within Albania were collected retrospectively. Every year of the period, 2004-2016 has been considered separately.METHODS:The data were assembled from Health Insurance Institute (HII) in Tirana, Albania and analysed for the period 2004-2016. The consumption of drugs was expressed as several Defined Daily Dose (DDDs)/1000 inhabitants/day. Also, for all the period under study 2004-2016, we analysed the data of import and domestic production of drugs, which represent the real consumption of drugs in the country. These data were subsequently involved in a comparative analysis with the utilisation data according to the HII, as well as through performing international comparisons of the consumption of AEDs drugs.RESULTS:Epilepsy morbidity data indicate that there exists a correlation statistically significant between this disease and the trend of consumption of AEDs.CONCLUSION:The present study suggests that the level of consumption for AEDs in Albania is very low when compared globally; with a decrease in the consumption of classic antiepileptic drugs and a parallel increase in the consumption of new generation drugs.