Armenians prefer to manage without medicine, and take them only in case of emergency. These are the results of a survey conducted online by NEWS.am Medicine. Previous results of our survey showed, that people in our country also avoid to see doctors.

From 1194 viewers of our site, who replied to the question «How often do you drink medicine? », 48% (583 people) replied, that prefer to manage without medicine. 35% (427 respondents) said, that they take medicine only by doctor's prescription, and 16% (193 respondents) said, that they stuff themselves with medicine in case of any minor ailment.

Distrust towards the medicine, the high price of drugs or disrespectful attitude to their own health is  the reason for this choice – we asked to comment the chief physician of Yerevan Karine Hovhannisyan.

According to the physician, Armenians indeed are very inattentive to their health and pay attention to their problems, as a matter of rule, very late.

The next reason, why Armenians avoid taking medicine, is their high cost – the doctor agrees with this. «There are many patients, who need medicine, but who have no money to buy them. But there are cheaper versions of the same medications – they can try to take them, » said Karine Hovhannisyan. From the other side, if a person realizes that (s) he is very ill and his (her) life depends on this medication, (s) he usually finds a way to get it.

But there is nothing wrong in the fact that most people prefer not to drink medicines for no particular reason. According to the doctor, it is stupid to take medicine on the advice of neighbours, aunts and uncles, and can lead to a number of consequences that will complicate the lives of both patient and the doctor, who then would have to treat him (her).