MEDICAL AND ECONOMIC FACTORS OF HOUSEHOLD SPENDING ON MEDICINES AND DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Abstract

Significance. In 2020, many Russians faced an increased need for medicines to treat COVID-19 and its complications, as well as economic hardship due to the crisis caused by the pandemic. The purpose of the study. To identify key factors that determined the Russian households’ spending on medicines and dietary supplements during the pandemic. Material and Methods. The study used Russian Longitudinal Monitoring Survey - National Research University “Higher School of Economics” samples of households and adults for the year 2020. We employed regression models to estimate the probability of purchasing medicines and dietary supplements, and family expenses on medicines and dietary supplements, depending on medical factors, healthy lifestyle factors, socio-economic and demographic factors. Results. The probability of buying medicines and dietary supplements and the household expenditures were higher in families with the disabled, individuals with multimorbidity, with self-reported poor health, and with pensioners. High expenditures on medicines and dietary supplements were observed in families which members visited doctors on a regular basis. Both the probability and expenditures on medicines and dietary supplements rose with the increase in average per capita income. The presence of children under 14 years in the family was associated with a decrease in expenditures on medicines. Smoking, overweight and sports were significant contributors to expenditures on medicines and supplements, although their relative contributions were quite small. Private health insurance did not affect expenditures on medicines. Residents of the Northwestern Federal District spent significantly more on medicines compared to residents of other districts. Conclusions. Expenditures on medicines and dietary supplements in 2020 were largely explained by the following two key factors - people suffering from two or more chronic conditions in the family and the average per capita income. Other household factors, although significant, contributed much less to the decision to spend on medicines and dietary supplements. Public provision of medicines especially during economic crisis can be improved by supporting poor households and including patients with multimorbidity into drug reimbursement programs and thus expanding the number of its beneficiaries. Scope of application. The study results can be used to improve policy on pharmaceutical provision of the population.