Spain: the effect of country of birth on patterns of pharmaceutical use

Despite the universality of health care in Spain for virtually all of the population, irrespective of nationality or country of origin, there is substantial evidence that the level of health and especially the use of health services differs in important ways between immigrants and the Spanish-born population. Differences in pharmaceutical use on the basis of immigrant status have, however, received much less attention. This study reviews the limited evidence in Spain on this issue, finding a lower consumption of medicines by some immigrant groups relative to Spaniards.