ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to examine the impact of medicines price regulation (Drug Price Control Order, 2013) on the market share of atorvastatin in the Indian retail market for statins.SettingAll Indian states, January 2012 to December 2015.DesignQuasi-experimental—interrupted time series analysis.DataPharmaceutical sales audit data set from IMS Health (now IQVIA) for the 48-month period from January 2012 to December 2015.Outcome measureShare of atorvastatin (in percentage) in the Indian market for statins in terms of sales volumes.ResultsWe observed that the price regulation notification (Drug Price Control Orders, 2013) was associated with 0.12% (p<0.001; 95% CI 0.06 to 0.18) increase in the trend of the average monthly market share of atorvastatin (5 mg and 10 mg). After 31 months of price ceilings notification, the average market share of atorvastatin was 3.41% higher than would have been expected had the price ceilings not been notified. In sensitivity analysis, with a control, our findings remain robust, we observed a 0.16% (p<0.001; 95% CI 0.08 to 0.24) rise in the trend of average monthly market share of atorvastatin (5 mg and 10 mg) as compared with the change in the control.ConclusionsPrice control as a public intervention did improve the relative sales of atorvastatin in the statin market in India.
How Do Commercial Insurance Plans Fare Under Proposed Prescription Drug Price Regulation?
