OBJECTIVES: The lack of filling prescriptions is one of the most common signs of noncompliance. It has serious health and economic consequences. The study assessed what kind of prescriptions patients most frequently do not fill in Poland and what are the reasons behind it.

METHODS: Pharmacists in community pharmacies belonging to the Farenta Research pharmacy practice-based research network identified patients who despite having a prescription for a drug decided not to purchase it. Data about not filled prescription and reason behind it were collected from all patients giving consent to participate in this study.

RESULTS: The study was conducted between 25^th of April and 6^th of May 2016. In 126 participating pharmacies, 1481 patients participated in the study and reported not filling 1931 different prescription medicines. About 40% of patients were men. The median patient age for whom prescriptions were issued was 63 years (range: 1-102). Elderly persons (≥65 years old) accounted for 45.5% of all persons who resigned from buying prescribed products. Most commonly patients did not fill prescription medicines used in the cardiovascular system (38.5%), alimentary tract and metabolism (19.6%) and respiratory system diseases (10.5%). The most common reason for abandoning the purchase of a prescription was having a supply of a medical product at home (67.0%). In 14.3% of cases, it was explained by financial reasons, while 9.3% argued that they use a substitute product.

CONCLUSIONS: Patients did not purchase their prescriptions mainly because having a stock of them at home. Patients do not comply with treatment and tend to accumulate drugs. Economic reasons often highlighted as the factor limiting access of elderly persons to medicines remained a second most important reason.