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. 1996 Mar 9;312(7031):629–632. doi: 10.1136/bmj.312.7031.629

Patients, society, and the increase in self medication.

A Blenkinsopp 1, C Bradley 1
PMCID: PMC2350384  PMID: 8595343

Abstract

Self medication with over the counter medicines has long been a feature of the lay health system. With the reclassification of certain drugs, the public can buy preparations that were previously available only prescription. Sales of over the counter medicines are now equivalent to a third of the NHS drugs bill; governments throughout the world see self medication as a way of shifting some of the cost of health care onto consumers. The trend towards increased self care and with it the increasing empowerment of patients has many potential benefits; collaboration between doctors and pharmacists will be critical.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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