Background: Bacterial infections are one of the most common causes of morbidity and mortality in community and hospital settings. The acceptance of the treatment imposes heavy economic burden on the patients. Due to improper drug policy, different costly preparations of the same brand are ordered and tendered, which pose a sheer wastage of money, ultimately causing burden on tax payers. Aims and Objectives: The present study was planned to evaluate and compare the costs of different brands of various generations of cephalosporin which may be generic or commercial in nature. Materials and Methods: We selected commonly used drugs from different generations of cephalosporins. Cost of drugs (may be generic or commercial or of different formulations) was obtained from latest periodic manuals of Indian Drug Review (INR) and drug today and was analyzed for cost ratio, cost range, and percentage difference among brands from different pharmaceutical companies for oral and parental forms. Correlation among price variations between them was observed by data comparison. Results: Cephalosporins were analyzed for the differences in prices. We not only found wide variation between the cost of generic and commercial preparations but also very wide price range and ratio among the same products from reputed to medium companies. Conclusions: Our study has indicated about the wide differences in the cost of different cephalosporins which are the most commonly prescribed group of antimicrobials. If hospitals across India adopt uniform policy of prescribing cost-effective preparations (brands/generic) only, then the unnecessary economic burden can be significantly reduced.
Fluoroquinolones are broad-spectrum antibacterial for treating respiratory tract, intra-abdominal, urinary tract, pelvic, joint, bone, soft tissue, and skin infections. The economic burden on patients affects compliance in developing countries like India. Therefore, the prices of drugs should be controlled effectively. Hence, this study was done to assess the cost variation of branded oral fluoroquinolones available in India compared with generic counterparts. The maximum and minimum cost of oral fluoroquinolones (INR per 10 tablets) of the same strength and dosage form manufactured by different companies was obtained from Drug Today April to July 2021 Volume 1, MIMS, and 1mg.com. The cost ratio and the percentage cost variation of individual drug brands were calculated. Prices of generic fluoroquinolones from the Jan Aushadhi scheme (JAS) were compared with branded drugs. Of 11 different oral fluoroquinolones, levofloxacin 500 mg had the highest percentage variation of 11.100%, and three formulations marketed by a few manufacturers have a percentage reduction of less than 100%. Of 23 different combinations available as 33 different dosages, the highest cost variations were observed in Norfloxacin 400 mg plus tinidazole 600 mg combination (1317%). When compared, some generic fluoroquinolones available under JAS were not cheaper than the minimum cost of their branded counterparts. Wide variation in the cost of the different brands of the same oral fluoroquinolones manufactured by other companies was observed. This adds to the economic burden for the patients. Hence, stakeholders should aim to decrease the cost variation among different brands while maintaining therapeutic efficacy
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