Could Reducing Unnecessary Antibiotics in Europe Save Billions Each Year?

In Europe, the overprescription of antibiotics in general medicine incurs an estimated annual cost of €2.7 billion. These excessive prescriptions contribute to the rise of antibiotic resistance, a phenomenon that makes infections harder to treat and increases the risk of death. A recent study assessed the economic impact of programs aimed at limiting these unnecessary prescriptions in five European countries. The results show that such initiatives could generate substantial savings for healthcare systems.

Antibiotics are often prescribed when they are not needed, particularly for viral infections such as colds or bronchitis. This practice exposes patients to avoidable side effects and accelerates the development of resistant bacteria. To address this, a targeted intervention was tested in France, Greece, Lithuania, Poland, and Spain. It combined training for doctors, tailored communication tools, and personalized monitoring of prescriptions. After its implementation, the number of unnecessary prescriptions decreased significantly.

By extrapolating these results to the entire European Union, researchers estimated that two scenarios are possible. In the first, a moderate reduction in unnecessary prescriptions would save €151 million per year. In the second, more optimistic scenario, savings could reach €423 million. These gains come from lower drug expenditures, reduced hospitalizations due to side effects, and decreased costs associated with resistant infections.

The intervention itself would cost approximately €107 million to deploy across Europe. Despite this investment, the financial benefits would far outweigh the expenses, even accounting for possible variations between countries. The savings achieved could thus relieve healthcare budgets while improving the quality of care.

Antibiotic resistance is a major challenge for public health. Every year, millions of people die from infections that have become untreatable. Limiting the excessive use of antibiotics not only preserves their effectiveness but also reduces unnecessary spending. Training and awareness programs for doctors therefore prove to be both effective and cost-efficient solutions.

These findings highlight the importance of acting quickly and in a coordinated manner. A unified European approach could maximize benefits, both economically and in terms of health. Authorities now have strong arguments to promote these initiatives and make them a priority.

Website References

Scientific Reference

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10198-026-01899-3

Title: Estimating cost savings from reducing antibiotic overprescription in european general practices

Journal: The European Journal of Health Economics

Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC

Authors: Fabiana Raynal Floriano; Laura Vallejo-Torres; Marina Elistratova; Beatriz González López-Valcárcel; Ana García-Sangenís; Jesper Lykkegaard; Malene Plejdrup Hansen; Lars Bjerrum; Athina Chalkidou; Jette Nygaard Jensen; Ingrid Rebnord; Bent Håkan Lindberg; Katja Taxis; Maarten Lambert; Ruta Radzeviciene; Lina Jaruseviciene; Pia Touboul-Lundgren; Pascale Bruno; Vanessa Lesage; Anna Kowalczyk; Maciej Godycki–Cwirko; Christos Lionis; Maria -Nefeli Karkana; Marilena Anastasaki; Matilde Bøgelund Hansen; Jonas Kanstrup Olsen; Jens Søndergaard; Daniela Modena; Stella Mally; Laura Álvarez; Carl Llor