Μake us preferred on Google Up to half of patients receiving long-term treatment do not take their medications as prescribed, a widespread problem that patient advocates say is leading to poorer health outcomes, preventable hospitalizations and significant healthcare costs.
According to data cited by the Greek Patients Association, between 20% and 30% of patients fail to consistently follow prescribed treatments for disease management or symptom relief. Among those receiving long-term therapies, medication adherence falls to around 50%.
Across Europe, poor adherence is linked to nearly 200,000 deaths each year resulting from incorrect medication use and is estimated to cost healthcare systems €1.25 billion annually. The association also cited data showing that up to half of hospital admissions for cardiovascular disease are associated with inadequate adherence to prescribed treatment.
Why Patients Stop Taking Their Medication
Memi Tsekoura, president of the Greek Patients Association, said medication adherence remains one of the most important yet often overlooked factors in protecting patients’ health.
She noted that patients frequently stop taking medication when symptoms improve or when chronic conditions produce no obvious symptoms, mistakenly believing treatment is no longer necessary.
Older adults face particular challenges. Around 65% of people over the age of 60 live with two or more chronic conditions, while adherence rates in this age group often do not exceed 60%, according to the association.
Economic pressures also play a significant role. Tsekoura said some patients intentionally reduce doses or temporarily stop treatment because they cannot afford the cost of their medications.
“When a patient cuts back on medication because they cannot afford it, the issue becomes one of access to healthcare,” she said.
Prevention and Early Diagnosis Also Matter
Tsekoura stressed that improving medication adherence begins with ensuring people know they have a medical condition in the first place.
She highlighted the importance of preventive screening programs, health literacy and timely access to diagnostic services, particularly for cardiovascular diseases, which remain among the most common chronic illnesses.
Recent awareness campaigns conducted by the Butterfly Patient Association, which Tsekoura also chairs, found that many participants were unaware they had underlying health conditions or cardiovascular risk factors.
During a nationwide campaign focused on chronic venous disease, volunteer vascular surgeons examined 711 people across nine regions of Greece. Nearly 60% were being screened for the condition for the first time, and 234 were diagnosed with a previously unknown stage of the disease.
According to Tsekoura, the findings underscore the importance of expanding preventive health programs and improving public awareness before symptoms develop.
Digital Tools Aim to Improve Adherence
To help patients stay on schedule with their treatment, Greece’s electronic prescription authority, IDIKA, is developing a medication reminder feature within the MyHealth app in collaboration with the Greek Patients Association. The reminder service is currently being piloted and is expected to become publicly available in the near future.
Separately, Servier Hellas has launched an educational platform designed to improve health literacy as part of its long-running campaign promoting the proper use of medicines.
Tsekoura said improving adherence requires cooperation between patients, healthcare professionals and public authorities, while also addressing financial barriers that prevent some patients from following prescribed treatment.
“Our goal is for every patient to have the knowledge, tools and support needed to actively participate in decisions about their health and to follow treatment without unnecessary obstacles,” she said.
