Affordability of Paediatric Oral Anti-Infective Medicines in a Selected District, Sri Lanka
In this cross-sectional descriptive study conducted in the Ratnapura district, Sri Lanka, we assessed the affordability of oral pediatric anti-infective medicines (OPAIMs). Using a modified WHO/HAI medicinal price methodology, we examined the availability, median price ratios (MPRs), mean percentage...
| Main Authors: | , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2024-03-01
|
| Series: | Pharmacoepidemiology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2813-0618/3/1/11 |
| _version_ | 1827305247411798016 |
|---|---|
| author | Malith Kumarasinghe Manuj C. Weerasinghe |
| author_facet | Malith Kumarasinghe Manuj C. Weerasinghe |
| author_sort | Malith Kumarasinghe |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In this cross-sectional descriptive study conducted in the Ratnapura district, Sri Lanka, we assessed the affordability of oral pediatric anti-infective medicines (OPAIMs). Using a modified WHO/HAI medicinal price methodology, we examined the availability, median price ratios (MPRs), mean percentage difference, and affordability of the standard treatment of the originator brand (OB) and lowest-priced generic (LPG) OPAIMs in 30 private and 2 state-owned pharmacies. The study revealed disparities in availability, with only 50% of private pharmacies offering all 11 medicinal drugs in their generic form. The MPRs of OPAIMs for OB and LPG varied, with three drugs exceeding the financially acceptable MPR of 2 (albendazole, amoxicillin, and erythromycin). The standard treatment with LPGs costs between 0.17 and 0.85 and between 0.06 and 0.28 days’ wages for the lowest daily salary of the private sector and unskilled public employees, respectively. We identified erythromycin and albendazole as having less than 50% availability in their generic form in private pharmacies. To address these findings, we recommend frequent pricing revisions based on exchange rates and associated costs, coupled with the establishment of a transparent scientific criterion to subsidize essential medicines deemed “unaffordable.” Failure to implement such measures amidst economic crises may adversely impact financial access to essential medications. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T17:55:01Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-5c38c251f25f4b61b9d03c1d77b8a6f8 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2813-0618 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T17:55:01Z |
| publishDate | 2024-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Pharmacoepidemiology |
| spelling | doaj.art-5c38c251f25f4b61b9d03c1d77b8a6f82024-03-27T13:59:56ZengMDPI AGPharmacoepidemiology2813-06182024-03-013118319710.3390/pharma3010011Affordability of Paediatric Oral Anti-Infective Medicines in a Selected District, Sri LankaMalith Kumarasinghe0Manuj C. Weerasinghe1Postgraduate Institute of Medicine, University of Colombo, 160, Prof. Nandadasa Kodagoda Mawatha, Colombo 00700, Sri LankaDepartment of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, 25 Kynsey Rd, Colombo 00800, Sri LankaIn this cross-sectional descriptive study conducted in the Ratnapura district, Sri Lanka, we assessed the affordability of oral pediatric anti-infective medicines (OPAIMs). Using a modified WHO/HAI medicinal price methodology, we examined the availability, median price ratios (MPRs), mean percentage difference, and affordability of the standard treatment of the originator brand (OB) and lowest-priced generic (LPG) OPAIMs in 30 private and 2 state-owned pharmacies. The study revealed disparities in availability, with only 50% of private pharmacies offering all 11 medicinal drugs in their generic form. The MPRs of OPAIMs for OB and LPG varied, with three drugs exceeding the financially acceptable MPR of 2 (albendazole, amoxicillin, and erythromycin). The standard treatment with LPGs costs between 0.17 and 0.85 and between 0.06 and 0.28 days’ wages for the lowest daily salary of the private sector and unskilled public employees, respectively. We identified erythromycin and albendazole as having less than 50% availability in their generic form in private pharmacies. To address these findings, we recommend frequent pricing revisions based on exchange rates and associated costs, coupled with the establishment of a transparent scientific criterion to subsidize essential medicines deemed “unaffordable.” Failure to implement such measures amidst economic crises may adversely impact financial access to essential medications.https://www.mdpi.com/2813-0618/3/1/11paediatricanti-infectivemedicinesaffordabilitySri Lanka |
| spellingShingle | Malith Kumarasinghe Manuj C. Weerasinghe Affordability of Paediatric Oral Anti-Infective Medicines in a Selected District, Sri Lanka Pharmacoepidemiology paediatric anti-infective medicines affordability Sri Lanka |
| title | Affordability of Paediatric Oral Anti-Infective Medicines in a Selected District, Sri Lanka |
| title_full | Affordability of Paediatric Oral Anti-Infective Medicines in a Selected District, Sri Lanka |
| title_fullStr | Affordability of Paediatric Oral Anti-Infective Medicines in a Selected District, Sri Lanka |
| title_full_unstemmed | Affordability of Paediatric Oral Anti-Infective Medicines in a Selected District, Sri Lanka |
| title_short | Affordability of Paediatric Oral Anti-Infective Medicines in a Selected District, Sri Lanka |
| title_sort | affordability of paediatric oral anti infective medicines in a selected district sri lanka |
| topic | paediatric anti-infective medicines affordability Sri Lanka |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2813-0618/3/1/11 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT malithkumarasinghe affordabilityofpaediatricoralantiinfectivemedicinesinaselecteddistrictsrilanka AT manujcweerasinghe affordabilityofpaediatricoralantiinfectivemedicinesinaselecteddistrictsrilanka |