Use of medication

Data on the use of medicines are based upon the Health Survey conducted by Statistics Netherlands.
Figures on OTC medicines are based on answers to the question: Did you take non-prescribed medicines or food supplements during the fortnight prior to the survey?
Data on prescribed medicines are based on answers to the question: Did you take prescribed medicines or food supplements during the fortnight prior to the survey? Medication taken during hospital admissions or admissions in outpatient departments and the contraceptive pill are not taken into account.
Data on types of OTC medicines are based upon the Health Survey 2009 conducted by Statistics Netherlands, because this question was not included in the 2010 Health Survey.

Questions submitted to respondents in the 0-12 age category were answered by parents or guardians. Data on medication by level of education refer to ove -25s. The Health Survey is a sample survey and therefore the results are subject to a margin of error.
 
Several changes were implemented in the Health Survey last year. Questions on the use of medication and the observation method were changed  As a result, data on the use of medication are not compatible with data referring to years prior to 2010.