Iceland grapples with high rates of unnecessary prescription medication according to health authorities

In Iceland, unnecessary prescription medication is alarmingly common, according to health authorities. In some cases, the harm caused by medications may outweigh their benefits. A pilot project in Canada has shown promising results in addressing this issue.

Dr. Justin Turner, a pharmacist who spoke at a recent conference, highlighted that while doctors are proficient in prescribing medications, they often struggle to reduce prescriptions when they’re no longer needed. The usage of sleeping pills, sedatives, and strong painkillers is significantly higher in Iceland compared to neighboring countries, with health officials estimating that 10-15 percent of prescriptions may be inappropriate.

Iceland is part of an international initiative aimed at ensuring “medications without harm.” During a conference held on October 7, Turner discussed strategies to combat over-prescription, referencing Canada’s allocation of 40 billion krónur to potentially questionable pharmaceuticals and an additional 140 billion to address their side effects.

Turner illustrated the potential danger of sleeping pills, which, while inexpensive, increase the risk of hip fractures in the elderly by 400 percent. He emphasized the importance of empowering patients to question the necessity of their medications, as the original rationale for prescriptions may no longer be valid.

He encouraged Icelandic authorities to learn from other countries’ approaches, like a Canadian program that financially incentivizes pharmacists to discuss the necessity of sleeping pills with patients, achieving a ten percent reduction in usage.

For effective change, Turner called for investments in education and awareness among health professionals and the public, enabling them to safely and gradually reduce their medication intake.