Cost and availability of selected medicines after implementation of increased import verification fees
Abstract Background Uganda imports approximately 90% of its medicines, with about 60% being distributed by the private sector. To discourage importation and promote local production of 37 selected locally manufactured medicines, the Ugandan government through the Ministry of Health in 2017 increased...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2024-01-01
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| Series: | BMC Health Services Research |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-023-10433-7 |
| _version_ | 1797363506104762368 |
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| author | Helen Byomire Ndagije Diana Nakitto Kesi Kalidi Rajab Solomon Onen Allan Serwanga Leonard Manirakiza Sheila Ampaire Joseph Mutasaaga Denis Mwesigwa David Nahamya |
| author_facet | Helen Byomire Ndagije Diana Nakitto Kesi Kalidi Rajab Solomon Onen Allan Serwanga Leonard Manirakiza Sheila Ampaire Joseph Mutasaaga Denis Mwesigwa David Nahamya |
| author_sort | Helen Byomire Ndagije |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Uganda imports approximately 90% of its medicines, with about 60% being distributed by the private sector. To discourage importation and promote local production of 37 selected locally manufactured medicines, the Ugandan government through the Ministry of Health in 2017 increased the import verification fees from 2 to 12%. The increase in verification fees ultimately affects cost and availability of these medicines. This study aimed to assess the cost and availability of the selected essential medicines after the 12% increase in verification fees in Uganda. Methods A cross sectional study among 328 wholesale and retail pharmacies and seven key informant interviews was conducted using a pretested data collection checklist and in-depth interview guide from February to September 2021 in Uganda. Data on the availability and prices of the medicines before (2017) and after (2020) the increase in verification fees was collected. Paired sample T-Test was used to test if there is a significant difference in prices before and after the 12% increase in verification fees. Results Mean availability of imported medicines was higher (54.8%, CI: 49.3–60.4) than the locally produced medicines (37.1%, CI: 31.9–42.7) except for locally manufactured parenteral preparations (54.6.%, CI: 49.1–60.1). Availability of locally produced medicines was mainly low (45%) while the imported medicines were fairly high (74%). Most commonly available locally manufactured medicines were Surgical spirit (89.9%), ORS (86%), Dextrose 5% solution (74.4%), Paracetamol 500 mg Tablets (73.8%) and Sodium Chloride 0.9% solution (72.9%). Most commonly available imported medicines were; Omeprazole 20 mg (94.2%), Amoxicillin Trihydrate 125 mg/5 ml (92.4%), Ciprofloxacin 500 mg (91.4%), Paracetamol Suspension 120 mg/5 ml (91.5%) and Metronidazole 200 mg Tablets (88.1%). Increase in lowest-priced local and imported medicines was significant for 10 (23.8%) and 7 (15.9%) of the medicines respectively. The median prices of imported medicines were generally higher than locally produced medicines. The median unit prices of 12 (28.6%) locally produced medicines and 20 (47.6%) imported medicines were higher than the international median unit prices. Conclusions The overall availability of imported medicines was still higher than the local medicines. The median prices of local and imported medicines generally increased or remained the same after the introduction of import verification fees. There is a need for price controls and transparency in the private sector. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T16:22:19Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-5f70758afcd4484688a2c58635c30f84 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1472-6963 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T16:22:19Z |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Health Services Research |
| spelling | doaj.art-5f70758afcd4484688a2c58635c30f842024-01-07T12:17:55ZengBMCBMC Health Services Research1472-69632024-01-0124111510.1186/s12913-023-10433-7Cost and availability of selected medicines after implementation of increased import verification feesHelen Byomire Ndagije0Diana Nakitto Kesi1Kalidi Rajab2Solomon Onen3Allan Serwanga4Leonard Manirakiza5Sheila Ampaire6Joseph Mutasaaga7Denis Mwesigwa8David Nahamya9National Drug AuthorityNational Drug AuthorityDepartment of Pharmacy, School of Health Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Makerere UniversityNational Drug AuthorityNational Drug AuthorityUganda National Bureau of StandardsNational Drug AuthorityNational Drug AuthorityNational Drug AuthorityNational Drug AuthorityAbstract Background Uganda imports approximately 90% of its medicines, with about 60% being distributed by the private sector. To discourage importation and promote local production of 37 selected locally manufactured medicines, the Ugandan government through the Ministry of Health in 2017 increased the import verification fees from 2 to 12%. The increase in verification fees ultimately affects cost and availability of these medicines. This study aimed to assess the cost and availability of the selected essential medicines after the 12% increase in verification fees in Uganda. Methods A cross sectional study among 328 wholesale and retail pharmacies and seven key informant interviews was conducted using a pretested data collection checklist and in-depth interview guide from February to September 2021 in Uganda. Data on the availability and prices of the medicines before (2017) and after (2020) the increase in verification fees was collected. Paired sample T-Test was used to test if there is a significant difference in prices before and after the 12% increase in verification fees. Results Mean availability of imported medicines was higher (54.8%, CI: 49.3–60.4) than the locally produced medicines (37.1%, CI: 31.9–42.7) except for locally manufactured parenteral preparations (54.6.%, CI: 49.1–60.1). Availability of locally produced medicines was mainly low (45%) while the imported medicines were fairly high (74%). Most commonly available locally manufactured medicines were Surgical spirit (89.9%), ORS (86%), Dextrose 5% solution (74.4%), Paracetamol 500 mg Tablets (73.8%) and Sodium Chloride 0.9% solution (72.9%). Most commonly available imported medicines were; Omeprazole 20 mg (94.2%), Amoxicillin Trihydrate 125 mg/5 ml (92.4%), Ciprofloxacin 500 mg (91.4%), Paracetamol Suspension 120 mg/5 ml (91.5%) and Metronidazole 200 mg Tablets (88.1%). Increase in lowest-priced local and imported medicines was significant for 10 (23.8%) and 7 (15.9%) of the medicines respectively. The median prices of imported medicines were generally higher than locally produced medicines. The median unit prices of 12 (28.6%) locally produced medicines and 20 (47.6%) imported medicines were higher than the international median unit prices. Conclusions The overall availability of imported medicines was still higher than the local medicines. The median prices of local and imported medicines generally increased or remained the same after the introduction of import verification fees. There is a need for price controls and transparency in the private sector.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-023-10433-7Import verification feesAvailability of medicinesCost of medicinesLocal productsImported products |
| spellingShingle | Helen Byomire Ndagije Diana Nakitto Kesi Kalidi Rajab Solomon Onen Allan Serwanga Leonard Manirakiza Sheila Ampaire Joseph Mutasaaga Denis Mwesigwa David Nahamya Cost and availability of selected medicines after implementation of increased import verification fees BMC Health Services Research Import verification fees Availability of medicines Cost of medicines Local products Imported products |
| title | Cost and availability of selected medicines after implementation of increased import verification fees |
| title_full | Cost and availability of selected medicines after implementation of increased import verification fees |
| title_fullStr | Cost and availability of selected medicines after implementation of increased import verification fees |
| title_full_unstemmed | Cost and availability of selected medicines after implementation of increased import verification fees |
| title_short | Cost and availability of selected medicines after implementation of increased import verification fees |
| title_sort | cost and availability of selected medicines after implementation of increased import verification fees |
| topic | Import verification fees Availability of medicines Cost of medicines Local products Imported products |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-023-10433-7 |
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