scholarly journals Availability of WHO Essential Medicines for Cancer Treatment in Botswana

2018 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Yehoda M. Martei ◽  
Sebathu Chiyapo ◽  
Surbhi Grover ◽  
Doreen Ramogola-Masire ◽  
Scott Dryden-Peterson ◽  
...  

Purpose Stock outs of cancer drugs are potentially fatal but have not been systematically studied in low- and middle-income countries. The aim of this study was to determine the availability and alignment of the Botswana National Essential Medicines List (NEML) for cancer drugs with the WHO’s Essential Medicines List (EML). Methods The availability and cost of cancer drugs were analyzed using data from a weekly stock catalog sent by Botswana’s Central Medical Store to all pharmacy departments in government hospitals. Comparative data were extracted from the WHO EML and the “International Drug Price Indicator Guide-2014” from the Management Sciences for Health. Interviews with key informants were used to collect data on the Botswana NEML and the drug supply chain in the public sector. Results The 2015 Botswana NEML for cancer had 80.5% alignment with the WHO EML. At least 40% of essential drugs were out of stock for a median duration of 30 days in 2015. Stock outs affected chemotherapy drugs included in first-line regimens for treating potentially curable diseases such as cervical, breast, and colorectal cancer and were not associated with buyer price of therapy. Analyses showed that the median price ratio for procured drugs was greater than 1 for 61% of the NEML drugs, which suggests inefficiency in procurement in the public sector. Conclusions Botswana has one of the highest alignments of NEML to the WHO EML in the sub-Saharan African region, which is consistent with investment in the health care system evident in other clinical spheres. Better quantification of chemotherapy requirements using data from the National Cancer Registry and resource-sensitive treatment guidelines can help reduce stock outs and facilitate more effective and efficient procurement processes.

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (11) ◽  
pp. e0260142
Author(s):  
Huong Thi Thanh Nguyen ◽  
Dai Xuan Dinh ◽  
Trung Duc Nguyen ◽  
Van Minh Nguyen

Objective To measure medicines’ prices, availability, and affordability in Hanam, Vietnam. Methods The standardized methodology developed by the World Health Organization (WHO) and Health Action International was used to survey 30 essential medicines (EMs) in 30 public health facilities and 35 private medicine outlets in 2020. The availability of medicine was computed as the percentage of health facilities in which this medicine was found on the data-collection day. International reference prices (IRPs) from Management Sciences for Health (2015) were used to compute Median Price Ratio (MPR). The affordability of treatments for common diseases was computed as the number of days’ wages of the lowest-paid unskilled government worker needed to purchase medicines prescribed at a standard dose. Statistic analysis was done using R software version 4.1.1. Results The mean availability of originator brands (OBs) and lowest-priced generics (LPGs) was 0.7%, 63.2% in the public sector, and 13.7%, 47.9% in the private sector, respectively. In private medicine outlets, the mean availability of both OBs and LPGs in urban areas was significantly higher than that in rural areas (p = 0.0013 and 0.0306, respectively). In the public sector, LPGs’ prices were nearly equal to their IRPs (median MPRs = 0.95). In the private medicine outlets, OBs were generally sold at 6.24 times their IRPs while this figure for LPGs was 1.65. The affordability of LPGs in both sectors was good for all conditions, with standard treatments costing a day’s wage or less. Conclusion In both sectors, generic medicines were the predominant product type available. The availability of EMs was fairly high but still lower than WHO’s benchmark. A national-scale study should be conducted to provide a comprehensive picture of the availability, prices, and affordability of EMs, thereby helping the government to identify the urgent priorities and improving access to EMs in Vietnam.


2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 48-57
Author(s):  
Ngoc Nguyen Phuoc Bich ◽  
Phu Nguyen Quang

Background: Essential medicines play an important role in the primary health care program. At least one third of the world’s population has no regular access to these medicines. The availibility and price are two of factors affecting access to essential medicines. Objective: To analyse the availability and the price of essential medicines in the city and some districts of Thua Thien Hue Province. Methods: Using the WHO/ HAI methodology. Results: The originator brand drugs were less available as compared to the lowest price generics. Median availability of originator brand drugs and lowest price generics were 0.0% and 40.0% in public sector. Similarily, these values were respectively 20.0% and 53.3% in private sector, 0.0% and 50.0% in other sector. The median MPRs of innovator drugs was 9.26 and 14.00 for private and other sector respectively while that of generic equivalent versions was 0.68 for public sector, 1.88 for private sector and 1.54 for other sector. Conclusion: The avalibility of originator products was lower than that of lowest price generics. Although the median price of originator brand drugs was much higher than the international reference prices, generic price was almost reasonable. The availibilty as well as the median MPRs figure for the private sector was higher than that for the public sector and other sector. Key words: Medicine prices, availability, essential medicines, WHO/HAI methodology, median price ratio (MPR)


PLoS ONE ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (11) ◽  
pp. e0241761
Author(s):  
Zuojun Dong ◽  
Qiucheng Tao ◽  
Bobo Yan ◽  
Guojun Sun

Objective To evaluate the availability, prices, and affordability of essential medicines in Zhejiang Province, China. Methods The survey was carried out in Zhejiang Province in 2018 following the methodology of the World Health Organization (WHO) and Health Action International (HAI). This method is an international standard method.Data on 50 medicines were collected from public health facilities and private pharmacies. Medication prices were compared with international reference prices to obtain a median price ratio. The affordability of medicines was measured based on the daily wage of the lowest-paid unskilled government worker. In private pharmacies, the mean availability of Originator Brands (OBs) and Lowest-priced Generics (LPGs) was 36.7% and 40.3%, respectively. Findings The effects of the mean availability of OBs and LPGs were seen in private pharmacies. Correspondingly, the average availability of OBs and LPGs was 41.8% and 35.1% in the public sector, respectively. In the public sector, the median price ratios (MPRs) were 5.21 for generics and 13.49 for OBs. In the private sector, the MPRs were 4.94 for generics and 14.75 for OBs. Treating common diseases with LPGs was generally affordable, while treatment with OBs was less affordable. Conclusions In Zhejiang Province, low availability was observed for medicines surveyed in the public and private sectors. Price differences between originator brands and generics in both sectors are apparent. OBs were more expensive than LPGs in both the public and private sectors. Low availability affects access to essential medicines. Policy measures should be taken to improve the availability of essential medicines.


1978 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 209-240 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas A. Kochan ◽  
Todd Jick

This paper develops and tests a model of the labor mediation process using data from a sample of negotiations involving municipal governments and police and firefighter unions in the State of New York. The test of the model also incorporates an estimate of the impact of a change in the statutory impasse procedures governing these groups. The model examines the impact of (1) alternative sources of impasse, (2) situational characteristics, (3) strategies of the mediators, and (4) personal characteristics of the mediators on the probability of settlement, percentage of issues resolved in mediation, movement or compromising behavior, and the tendency to hold back concessions in mediation. The results indicate that the change in the impasse procedure had a marginal affect on the probability of settlement in the small to medium cities in the sample but little or no effect on the larger cities. Furthermore, a number of other measures of the sources of impasse and mediator strategies and characteristics had a stronger impact on the effectiveness of the mediation process than the nature of the impasse procedure.


Author(s):  
Yaya Coulibaly ◽  
Fanta Sangho ◽  
Aboubacar Alassane Oumar

Objective: The drug policy of Mali is based on the concept of essential generic drugs. The adoption of generic drugs in a program is often accompanied by irrational use of these drugs precisely because of the availability of these drugs. Thus, this study was initiated to assess the quality of prescribing and dispensing drugs in Mali. Methods: This is a descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted from 2004 to 2013, the survey was conducted in 20 primary health centers and 20 private pharmacies in three regions of the country. In each of these structures, 30 prescriptions filled at the time of the survey were collected. Results: The average number of drugs per prescription was 3.0 ± 1.3 and 2.4 ± 1.2, respectively, in the public and private sectors. Prescription of drugs under international name was 91.6% in the public sector and 37.2% in the private sector. The public sector prescribed 33.7% of injectable drug against 16.2% in the private sector (p <0.001). The average cost of a prescription was lower in the public sector (3415.3 FCFA or 5.21euros) than in the private sector (7111 FCFA or 10.85 euros).Conclusion: Generic drugs are commonly used in the public, but much less in the private sector. The treatment guidelines are already available, should be introduced interactively to medical practitioners, through visits and intensive supervision by more experienced managers in the hierarchy, it would be likely to improve the quality of prescribing practitioners.


BMJ Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. e035132 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul G Ashigbie ◽  
Peter C Rockers ◽  
Richard O Laing ◽  
Howard J Cabral ◽  
Monica A Onyango ◽  
...  

ObjectivesThe objective of this study was to determine the availability and prices of medicines for non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in health facilities and private for-profit drug outlets in Kenya.DesignCross-sectional study.MethodsAll public and non-profit health facilities in eight counties (Embu, Kakamega, Kwale, Makueni, Narok, Nyeri, Samburu and West Pokot) that purchased medicines from the Mission for Essential Drugs and Supplies, a major wholesaler, were surveyed in September 2016. For each health facility, one nearby private for-profit drug outlet was also surveyed. Data on availability and price were analysed for 24 NCD and 8 acute medicine formulations. Availability was analysed separately for medicines in the national Essential Medicines List (EML) and those in the Standard Treatment Guidelines (STGs). Median price ratios were estimated using the International Medical Products Price Guide as a reference.Results59 public and 78 non-profit facilities and 135 drug outlets were surveyed. Availability of NCD medicines was highest in private for-profit drug outlets (61.7% and 29.3% for medicines on the EML and STGs, respectively). Availability of STG medicines increased with increasing level of care of facilities: 16.1% at dispensaries to 31.7% at secondary referral facilities. The mean proportion of availability for NCD medicines listed in the STGs (0.25) was significantly lower than for acute medicines (0.61), p<0.0001. The proportion of public facilities giving medicines for free (0.47) was significantly higher than the proportion of private non-profit facilities giving medicines for free (0.09) (p<0.0001). The mean price ratio of NCD medicines was significantly higher than for acute medicines in non-profit facilities (4.1 vs 2.0, respectively; p=0.0076), and in private for-profit drug outlets (3.5 vs 1.7; p=0.0013).ConclusionPatients with NCDs in Kenya appear to have limited access to medicines. Increasing access should be a focus of efforts to achieve universal health coverage.


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