Medicine prices, availability and affordability in Sri Lanka

Abstract

Background:No pricing formula has been implemented from November 2002 to date in Sri Lanka. Therefore, we initiated a study in 2003 to determine the prices, availability and affordability of medicines in the private sector of Sri Lanka in the absence of a price control.Materials and Methods:The World Health Organization/Health Action International methodology was used. The study was conducted in retail pharmacies (Rajya Osu Sala) of State Pharmaceuticals Corporation (semigovernment) and privately owned retail pharmacies (n = 15) in 2003, 2006 and 2009 in a geographical area. Essential medicines (n = 28) were studied and, for each medicine, innovator, most sold generic and cheapest generic were monitored. The medicine’s median price was compared with the international reference prices (IRP) to obtain the median price ratio. The daily wage of the lowest-paid government worker was used to calculate affordability.Results:Innovators were five to six-times the IRP at privately owned pharmacies and four to seven-times at the Rajya Osu Sala. The prices of generics were ≤1 the IRP during 6 years in privately owned and Rajya Osu Sala pharmacies. Cheapest generics were high in availability (>80%) throughout the study period. Innovators cost more than a day’s wage of the lowest-paid government worker; in contrast, generics were always less than one day’s wage. There seems to be no difference in affordability between privately owned or semigovernment pharmacies.Conclusion:In Sri Lanka, generic medicines have effective pricing and are available and affordable. No drastic changes in prices of medicine in the private sector were observed over the 6 years despite removal of price control.

Short-term differences in drug prices after implementation of the national essential medicines system: A case study in rural Jiangxi Province, China

“…Widening the focus might result in different price changes because of the high prices of originator brands, as shown in past studies. [ 3 11 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 22 ]…”

Essential Medicines Are More Available than Other Medicines around the Globe

“…The following studies may provide an insight on the extent of availability of medicines included in national EMLs in different countries. Above 75% average availability of generic medicines was reported in a national survey of essential medicines in the private sector in Sri Lanka [15] and in the public sector and popular pharmacies in Brazil [16] , as well as in provincial surveys on essential medicines in Ethiopia [17] , primary health care centers’ essential medicines in India [18] , and the children’s national rural health mission list in the public sector in India. [19] Conversely, a national study on the availability of pediatric essential medicines in Sri Lanka’s public sector [20] as well as provincial surveys on national essential medicines in China [21] , [22] all pointed to inadequate availability of the essential medicines studied.…”

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

“…Previous studies on availability and affordability of medicines in Sri Lanka have been conducted in limited geographical areas [ 8 , 16 , 17 ]. Thus a national survey was needed to ascertain availability, price and affordability in all provinces of the island to provide a better understanding of the situation.…”