I&#x27;m not sure it is that high, but doctors do tend to prescribe more instead of saying &quot;no, you can&#x27;t have the antibiotic for your cold&quot;. Part of this is a regulatory issue as well - I walk into a pharmacy here in Norway and you have to ask for some of the medicines, even though they are available without prescription. In the states it was different - basically no regulation. On top of the fact that medicine in the states is most definitely a consumer good paid for by the individual... in universal coverage, it is a bonus not to over-prescribe medicines and to make sure that those that need medication take care of themselves as they should so that costs don&#x27;t go up - and people don&#x27;t need more medication.<p>Making medicines easier to take doesn&#x27;t actually address any of this outside of making it slightly easier for those on medication to take it as they should so that their conditions don&#x27;t get worse.