A Cost Variation Analysis of Drugs Available in the Indian Market for the Management of Thromboembolic Disorders

Ray, Avik; Najmi, Ahmad; Khandelwal, Gaurav; Sadasivam, Balakrishnan

doi:10.7759/cureus.7964

Cited by 16 publications

(29 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…This is in addition to concerns about the routine availability of medicines to treat priority diseases in India. Medicine prices are typically lower in India compared with a number of other LMICs although appreciable variation in prices has been seen among pharmacies ( Millard et al, 2018 ; Babar et al, 2019 ; Ray et al, 2020 ). Having said this, as mentioned, there are ongoing activities by the Indian Government to regulate the prices of medicines in India to help with co-payments for essential medicines ( HealthWorld, 2016 ; Pavithra, 2019 ).…”

Section: Introduction/backgroundmentioning

confidence: 99%

Utilisation, Availability and Price Changes of Medicines and Protection Equipment for COVID-19 Among Selected Regions in India: Findings and Implications

Haque

Kumar²,

Charan

et al. 2021

Front. Pharmacol.

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Background: COVID-19 has already claimed a considerable number of lives worldwide. However, there are concerns with treatment recommendations given the extent of conflicting results with suggested treatments and misinformation, some of which has resulted in increased prices and shortages alongside increasing use and prices of personal protective equipment (PPE). This is a concern in countries such as India where there have been high patient co-payments and an appreciable number of families going into poverty when members become ill. However, balanced against pricing controls. Community pharmacists play a significant role in disease management in India, and this will remain. Consequently, there is a need to review prices and availability of pertinent medicines during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic in India to provide future direction.Objective: Assess current utilisation and price changes as well as shortages of pertinent medicines and equipment during the early stages of the pandemic.Our Approach: Multiple approach involving a review of treatments and ongoing activities across India to reduce the spread of the virus alongside questioning pharmacies in selected cities from early March to end May 2020.Our Activities: 111 pharmacies took part, giving a response rate of 80%. Encouragingly, no change in utilisation of antimalarial medicines in 45% of pharmacies despite endorsements and for antibiotics in 57.7% of pharmacies, helped by increasing need for a prescription for dispensing. In addition, increased purchasing of PPE (over 98%). No price increases were seen for antimalarials and antibiotics in 83.8 and 91.9% of pharmacies respectively although shortages were seen for antimalarials in 70.3% of pharmacies, lower for antibiotics (9.9% of pharmacies). However, price increases were typically seen for PPE (over 90% of stores) as well as for analgesics (over 50% of pharmacies). Shortages were also seen for PPE (88.3%).Conclusion: The pandemic has impacted on utilisation and prices of pertinent medicines and PPE in India but moderated by increased scrutiny. Key stakeholder groups can play a role with enhancing evidenced-based approaches and reducing inappropriate purchasing in the future.

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Section: Introduction/backgroundmentioning

confidence: 99%

Utilisation, Availability and Price Changes of Medicines and Protection Equipment for COVID-19 Among Selected Regions in India: Findings and Implications

Haque

Kumar²,

Charan

et al. 2021

Front. Pharmacol.

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“…The main objective of the study was to identify the cost variation and cost ratio of different brands of drugs used in the medical management of BPH in the Indian market and this study reveals that there is huge cost variation among various formulations of these drugs. Furthermore, similar studies done in the past with anti-hypertensive drugs [10], anxiolytic drugs [11], drugs used in thromboembolic disorders [12], and anticancer drugs [13] have also given conclusion on huge cost variation of drugs. The results of the study indicate that despite the measures of cost control of drugs in India, under Drug Price Control Order (DPCO) initiative by the Government of India, significant interbrand cost variations still exist in the Indian pharmaceutical market.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 78%

A Cost Variation Analysis Study of Drugs Used in the Management of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia Available in the Indian Market

Rani¹,

Venepally

2021

Asian J Pharm Clin Res

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Objectives: The objectives of the study are to evaluate the cost variation and cost ratio of different brands of the drugs used in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Methods: The cost of alpha-blockers and 5 alpha-reductase inhibitors used in the treatment of BPH was noted from CIMS (Oct 2019–Jan 2020), Drugs Update, and Medline. The differences between the maximum and minimum cost of various brands of the same drug were analyzed and percentage variation in the cost was calculated. The results of the study were expressed in absolute numbers and percentages. Results: All the drugs used in the treatment of BPH are only available in tablet and capsule forms, in 10 different dosages and in 242 different brand names, of which 10 mg alfuzosin and 2.5 mg finasteride have the highest (518) and lowest (14) percentage of cost variation, while 0.4 mg tablet form of tamsulosin is available in the maximum number of brands-41. Conclusion: This pharmacoeconomic study reveals that there is wide variation in the cost of most of the drugs used in the treatment of BPH. Therefore, it is very much essential for both government and pharmaceutical companies to make combined efforts to reduce the cost of these drugs, which will reduce the economic burden on the patients and also reduce the overall health care costs.

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“…An order is issued by the Indian government to fix prices of drugs called Drug price control order (DPCO). 4,8,9 Under DPCO once the medicine is bought it cannot be sold at higher price than that fixed by the government. Very few drugs under ARVs are listed under DPCO updated in 2022.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Cost ratio gives valuable information on how many times is the cost of the most expensive brand more than the least expensive brand, for the drug considered for evaluation. 9 Cost ratio between the maximum and minimum cost of the same drug manufactured by different pharmaceutical companies was calculated as follows, The drug formulation being manufactured by only one company was excluded. Data obtained were analyzed using descriptive statistics.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cost variation analysis of various brands of anti-retroviral agents currently available in Indian market: an economic perspective study

Anusha

Geetha²

2022

Int J Basic Clin Pharmacol

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Background: The aim was to analyze the percentage cost variations among different brands of the commonly prescribed anti-retroviral agents in the treatment of human immunodeficiency virus.Methods: The cost of different brands of commonly used Anti-Retroviral agents was sorted out by referring latest Indian drug index online, drug today, current index of medical specialties, Indian drug review.Results: The percentage variation in the cost was above 100% with most of the commonly used anti-retroviral agents. Overall sequinafir 500 mg shows maximum cost variation of 1490.3%, while nelfinavir (625 mg) shows minimum cost variation of 6.1% in single drug therapy. Lamivudine 300 mg and tenofovir 300 mg combination shows maximum cost variation of 14055% whereas, lamivudine 150 mg, zidovudine 300 mg and efavirenz 600 mg shows minimum cost variation of 10% in combination drug therapy.Conclusions: HIV is the most common infectious, life-threatening disease and drugs are to be prescribed for life-long period. If a costly brand is prescribed, the patients cannot afford to pay more money for their treatment. This also leads to poor patient compliance, dissatisfaction and failure of the treatment. Ideally, therefore, the drugs should be prescribed in such a way, to save the patient's economic burden and enhance the compliance of the treatment.

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A Cost Variation Analysis of Drugs Available in the Indian Market for the Management of Thromboembolic Disorders

Cited by 16 publications

References 14 publications

Utilisation, Availability and Price Changes of Medicines and Protection Equipment for COVID-19 Among Selected Regions in India: Findings and Implications

Utilisation, Availability and Price Changes of Medicines and Protection Equipment for COVID-19 Among Selected Regions in India: Findings and Implications

A Cost Variation Analysis Study of Drugs Used in the Management of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia Available in the Indian Market

Cost variation analysis of various brands of anti-retroviral agents currently available in Indian market: an economic perspective study

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