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One third of Ukrainians prefer to self-medicate
Last reviewed: 30.06.2025
In case of illness, Ukrainians try to treat themselves, do not go to doctors. This is stated in a telephone survey of public opinion, which was conducted by the Gorshenin Institute from September 5 to 7, 2011. Consequently, 40.2% of respondents first of all go to state (free) clinics or hospitals, 30.1% of respondents, if they are ill, try to treat themselves. 5.6% of respondents go to private clinics or hospitals, and 2.5% to traditional healers.
According to the survey results, 5.3% of Ukrainians surveyed do nothing in case of illness.
As the study showed, when buying medicines, 42.2% of Ukrainians are guided by a doctor's prescription, 36.8% - by personal experience. 12.6% of respondents reported that when choosing medicines, they pay attention to the price, and if it is suitable, they buy the medicines at an affordable price. 10.4% of respondents take into account the advice of a pharmacist when buying medicines, 6.6% of respondents use the advice of friends, 1.9% of Ukrainians "fall for" advertising.
Interestingly, 5.5% of Ukrainians surveyed said they do not buy medicines.
From September 5 to 7, 2011, the Gorshenin Institute conducted a telephone survey on the topic: "Medicine in Ukraine". A total of 1,000 respondents aged 18 and over were interviewed in all regional centers of Ukraine, the cities of Kyiv and Sevastopol, according to a random sample. The quotas were the region of residence, gender and age of the respondents. The margin of error of the representativeness of the study does not exceed 3.2%.
The head of the parliamentary committee on health issues, Tetyana Bakhteyeva, is concerned that the number of Ukrainians self-medicating under the influence of advertising is constantly growing. She also reported that in this regard, the parliamentary committee has prepared three bills, which have already been adopted in the first reading, which deal with a total ban on advertising of medicines, in particular biologically active supplements, in the media.
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