E-DRUG: 9th edition of Untangling the Web
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Dear colleagues,
At the bottom of this message you will find the link to the 9th (July
2006) edition of Untangling the web of price reductions: a pricing guide
for the purchase of ARVs for developing countries, released by Medecins
Sans Frontieres Campaign for Access to Essential Medicines.
This publication provides information about the prices and suppliers of
antiretroviral drugs in developing countries.
Drug by drug, the report details the prices quoted by companies (both
originator and generic) for antiretrovirals, provides an analysis of the
evolution in these prices in the past few years, and focuses on the key
issues on accessing quality products at affordable prices in developing
countries.
In addition, the report provides information about where the particular
price offers by pharmaceutical companies are valid, what type of treatment
provider is eligible for them as well as other conditions linked to the
offers.
In the report, MSF analyses the limitations of price offers. The problems
fall into four categories:
(1) that in the absence of competition from multiple producers, companies
may charge prohibitive prices,
(2) that most originator companies establish a country premium, thereby
excluding patients in some developing countries,
(3) that even if companies announce discounted prices for their products
in some eligible developing countries, the products are in fact not always
available or affordable, and
(4) that paediatric HIV/AIDS is neglected by most pharmaceutical
companies.
The current differential pricing practice is insufficient and cannot be
considered the sole solution to increasing access to ARVs worldwide, or to
all products that are needed. Making life-saving drugs available at
affordable prices should not depend on the goodwill of private companies.
It is a government responsibility. Where the political will exists, people
pay less for their drugs and more people have access to them.
It is important to note that the information in this report only relates
to the price of medicines: it does not include other costs linked to
antiretroviral treatment, such as diagnostics and monitoring tools.
The aim of this report is not to compare prices of ARVs from different
companies or between countries. The methodology used is inadequate for
that purpose.
But price should not be the only factor determining procurement decisions.
Not all the products listed in this report have been prequalified by WHO,
so readers and purchasers wishing to obtain more information about drug
quality are encouraged to consult the "WHO prequalification project:
Access to HIV/AIDS Drugs and Diagnostics of Acceptable Quality" (known as
WHO prequalification list).
In any case, the prices listed in the report are not necessarily the same
as the final prices paid by either patients or their health care
providers. For example, in some countries, there are local add-ons such as
import taxes and distribution mark-ups that are not included in the
document.
A hard copy of the new edition of the Untangling will be available soon
during the IAS AIDS conference in Toronto, and also as an annex of the 7th
edition of Sources and Prices of Selected Medicines and
Diagnostics for people Living with HIV/AIDS (in preparation).
http://www.accessmed-msf.org/documents/untanglingtheweb%209.pdf
regards,
Celine Derche
MSF Campaign for Access to Essential Medicines
Celine.DERCHE@paris.msf.org
Fernando Pascual Martinez
MSF Campaign for Access to Essential Medicines
Fernando.PASCUAL@geneva.msf.org
James Arkinstall
MSF Campaign for Access to Essential Medicines
James.ARKINSTALL@paris.msf.org
Céline Derché
Pharmacist
Campaign for Access to Essential Medicines, MSF
www.accessmed-msf.org
E-mail: celine.derche@paris.msf.org
Tel: +33 (0)1 40 21 27 76