Social insurance institution Kela urges doctors to pay closer attention to how the medications they prescribe interact with other medications.
The agency said it was sending prescription feedback this summer to doctors who have prescribed multiple medications that increase bleeding risks.
Some 750 physicians are set to receive the reprimand for simultaneously prescribing at least three medications that increase the risk of bleeding.
Kela said that in some of the cases, doctors may not have had up-to-date information about patients' overall medication regimens.
Terhi Kurko, a senior researcher at Kela, said it was likely that doctors aren't always aware of all of the drugs a patient takes.
Information system are one reason for this, according to Kurko.
Doctors do not necessarily check a patient's overall medication regimen when renewing prescriptions. This could be one reason for some patients taking three drugs simultaneously increasing the risk of bleeding.
If there isn't enough time to discuss drug interactions during a doctor's appointment, Kurko said it's advisable to raise the issue at the pharmacy.
"An extremely important thing would be for people to have their own medication lists, where they record all their medications in one place," Kurko said.
She also pointed out that it's not always possible to avoid drug interactions if certain medications are necessary for treatment.
Starting in 2026, however, a Kanta prescription list will make it easier for doctors in Finland to monitor drug interactions. The database is an electronic, up-to-date summary of an individual’s medications, making it less likely for doctors to prescribe medications with harmful interactions.
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