Healthcare expenditures and increasing antimicrobial consumption in Turkey

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the trend in antimicrobial consumption in Turkey between 2007 and 2010. Methods: Antimicrobial consumption data were obtained from Intercontinental Medical Statistics Turkey office. The total antimicrobial consumption data were calculated as Defined Daily Dose (DDD)/1000 inhabitant-days. The correlation between the previous five-year period and association with the main indicators of economy and healthcare services of the country were assessed. Results: Total utilization of antibiotics increased from 33.7 to 38.8 DDD/1000 inhabitant-days between 2007 and 2010. A steady increase took place during the study period. When this period was compared with the previous period (between 2001 and 2006), a similar trend was found. Turkey's total healthcare expenditure 2001 to 2010 increased from 4.5 billion Turkish Liras to 32 billion Turkish Liras. Conclusion: In Turkey, antibiotic consumption increased steadily in recent years, with a close relation to government healthcare support policy, rising health expenditures and other economical indicators.