A national survey on availability, price and affordability of selected essential medicines for non communicable diseases in Sri Lanka

Dabare, Panthihage Ruvini L; Wanigatunge, C.A.; Beneragama, Bvs Hemantha

doi:10.1186/1471-2458-14-817

Cited by 31 publications

(48 citation statements)

References 8 publications

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“…However, they can get the OB medicines from private sectors if they choose to be treat with OB medicines. These results were similar to the findings of a study that was conducted in Sri Lanka and showed a fairly high availability of LPG medicines in public and private sectors (58% and 74.4%, respectively) [22]. While, another study found low availability of LPGs in public sector [23].…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 88%

Availability, prices and affordability of selected essential medicines in Jordan: a national survey

Alefan

Amairi

Tawalbeh

2018

BMC Health Serv Res

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BackgroundFree access to essential medicines is a fundamental right. Governments should provide accessible and affordable medicines to people. The purpose of this study was to evaluate medicines’ prices, availability and affordability in Jordan.MethodData was collected from 30 public sectors and 30 private sectors in 6 regions in Jordan. At each institution, the availability and prices data of 50 originator brand (OB) medicines and lowest-price generic (LPG) equivalent medicines were collected. Medicines’ prices were compared with international reference prices (IRPs) to obtain a median price ratio (MPR). Availability of medicines was determined on the day of data collection. Affordability was calculated with regards to the daily income of the lowest-paid unskilled government employee.ResultAvailability of medicines in public and private sectors was 72% and 76% for LPGs, respectively. Median MPRs of procurement prices for OBs and LPGs in the public sector were 1.1 and 5.5 times the IRPs, respectively. Private sector OB medicines were priced 4.8 times higher than IRPs, whereas LPGs were 3.8 times higher. OBs cost 14% more than LPGs in private sector. The median MPRs of patient prices for LPGs in the public sector were lower than in the private sector (1.1 versus 7.6). Generally, medicines’ prices are affordable in public sector that the lowest paid unskilled government employee need less than a 1 day income to purchase the LPGs. While in private sector, the medicine prices are not affordable. For example, the treatment of hypertension either by LPGs or OBs needs more than 1 day income by lowest paid unskilled government employee.ConclusionThis study showed good availability of LPGs in the public sector. In private sector, it showed good availability of LPGs and OBs with higher patient prices. The procurement prices in the public sector were reasonable in comparison to IRPs. Policy evaluation efforts must be directed to cut medicines prices and to improve affordability in private sector.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1186/s12913-018-3593-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 88%

Availability, prices and affordability of selected essential medicines in Jordan: a national survey

Alefan

Amairi

Tawalbeh

2018

BMC Health Serv Res

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“…According to the WHO–HAI method the specific dose and form was surveyed for availability [15]. As with previous studies the availability of the selected medicine was considered regardless of whether it is innovator, generic or branded generic [4, 6]. A medicine was considered as available only if the data collectors physically saw it [15], drug not being expired and being suitable for use.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Descriptive statistics were used to describe data. Drug availability was described according to earlier national and international surveys; <30%: very low, 30–49%: low, 50–80%: fairly high and >80%: high [6, 18]. Each dosage form of a particular medicine was considered as separate items.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Therefore we differed in the following steps:Only availability of drugs was checked and data on pricing was not collected as medicines are dispensed free of charge in state sector [6]. …”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Generic medicines were available and affordable according to a survey carried out over 6 year period in retail pharmacies (semi-government and private) of SL [5]. The 2013 SL national survey showed a “fairly high” (50–80%) availability of selected essential medicines for non-communicable diseases (NCD) in both the private and public sectors [6]. However, another SL study revealed that the availability of key essential medicines for children was “low” (30–49%) in public hospitals [7].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Availability of essential medicines in selected public, primary and secondary health care institutions of a rural Sri Lankan district: a spot survey

Rathish

Premarathna

Jayathilake

et al. 2017

BMC Health Serv Res

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BackgroundAssessment of the availability of essential medicines, in rural areas of countries with free state health care system, is scarce. Dependence on essential medicines among the population in rural sector is considered to be high. Assessing the availability of essential medicines in selected state owned primary and secondary health care institutions of a rural district will help to identify areas where improvement is needed.MethodsA descriptive cross sectional study, covering selected five primary and one secondary care institutions of a rural Sri Lankan district, was conducted. The national list of essential medicines, Sri Lanka was used as the check list and the guidelines of the WHO–Health Action International were adapted.ResultsThe secondary care institution recorded an overall availability of 71%, whereas the average overall availability of the primary care institutions was 56%. Central dispensaries recorded the lowest availability. Lack of availability of medicines needed for the management of chronic kidney disease, snake bite and poisoning was noted.ConclusionsAvailability of essential medicines in most of the primary and the secondary care institutions were fairly high. Deficiency in medicines needed for the management of emergencies was noted. A need based annual estimate of medicines based on an essential medicine list is suggested.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12913-016-1969-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

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Availability, affordability, and quality of essential anti‐seizure medication in Cambodia

et al. 2021

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Objective Epilepsy is a major neurological disorder that requires long‐term medical treatment. Once epilepsy is diagnosed, people with epilepsy face many difficulties in accessing treatment (treatment gap). Our objective was to assess the situation regarding the availability, price, affordability, and quality of anti‐seizure medication (ASM), which are major determinants of access to treatment. Method A cross‐sectional study was performed in provincial/district hospitals and private pharmacies in urban and rural areas in Cambodia. Data on ASM availability and price were obtained through drug suppliers. Affordability was estimated as the number of day wages the lowest‐paid government employee must work to purchase a monthly treatment. Samples of ASM were collected, and the quality of ASM was assessed through Medicine Quality Assessment Reporting Guidelines. Results Out of 138 outlets visited, only 72 outlets (52.2% [95% CI 43.5‐60.7]) had at least one ASM available. Phenobarbital 100 mg was the most available (35.5%), followed by carbamazepine 200 mg (21.7%), phenobarbital 50 mg (11.6%), sodium valproate 500 mg (9.4%), and phenytoin 100 mg (9.4%). In provincial/district hospitals, ASM was provided free of charge. In private pharmacies, affordability for phenobarbital 50 mg and 100 mg was the best, with 0.6 and 0.5 days, respectively, compared to phenytoin 100 mg (1.8 days), and other ASM. No counterfeit ASM was found in this study. Phenytoin sample presented the worst quality (33.0%) compared to carbamazepine (27.8%), and other ASM. Significance A lack of access to affordable and effective ASM due to low availability and poor quality of ASM was identified. Our research highlights the need for future policy efforts to ensure the quality of ASM and improve their availability. This can be achieved by involving the calculation of their annual needs for these drugs and increasing the national production of ASM.

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A national survey on availability, price and affordability of selected essential medicines for non communicable diseases in Sri Lanka

Cited by 31 publications

References 8 publications

Availability, prices and affordability of selected essential medicines in Jordan: a national survey

Availability, prices and affordability of selected essential medicines in Jordan: a national survey

Availability of essential medicines in selected public, primary and secondary health care institutions of a rural Sri Lankan district: a spot survey

Availability, affordability, and quality of essential anti‐seizure medication in Cambodia

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