E-DRUG: Can we standardise the pharmaceuticals' mark-up on cost? (5)
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear E-Druggers,
Here, in Ethiopia, a drug financing study is underway. One of the most important outputs of this study is the drug per capita expenditure. As all know, since the start of massive campaign against HIV/AIDS, the international input to this effort is significant and it budget for ART, OI, test kits and reagent is closer or more than to the national budget of developing countries like us. I would like to know the experience so far if any current studies available in relation to the following points:
1. Does the drug per capita calculation should include ARVs, HIV Test Kits and specific lab reagents costs. (To make it clear I did not mean these items are not part of pharmaceuticals or drugs but in terms of economic terms and political indicators for the governments and international development partners how can we consider them?)
2. Is Medical instrument or equipment costs and cost for equipment such as laundry machines, kitchen equipment and sanitary supplies can be considered as drug cost?
Mainly these types of studies are used for generating evidence for decisions to policy makers. Would you please comment around the precautions to be taken on interpretation of the figures?
Best regards
Alemayehu Lemma
Chief Expert Pharmacist
P.O. Box 43454, Addis Ababa,
Ethiopia
Tel. +251-11-5535154 (Office)
Mobile +251-911812160
e-mail: alemayehulemma@yahoo.com