[e-drug] Medicine prices and availability in Kyrgyzstan

E-DRUG: Medicine prices and availability in Kyrgyzstan
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Dear E-druggers

In July 2010 a medicine price and availability survey was conducted in
Kyrgyzstan, using the WHO/HAI methodology. The results have been posted
on HAIs website http://www.haiweb.org/MedPriceDatabase/ (although the
survey report is not yet available)

Government procurement prices, and patient prices, were collected for 50
medicines in the capital Bishkek and in 5 regions.

While the government was only buying generics, generally prices were
high (about 2.4 times median supplier prices in the International Drug
Price Indicator Guide). While some individual medicines were reasonably
priced, others were not. Prices paid for aspirin 100mg, enalapril 20mg,
simvastatin 20mg, and hydrochlorothiazide 25mg were extremely high.

Patient prices of lowest-priced generics in the 25 private pharmacies
sampled were, on average, about 50% higher than the government
procurement prices for generics. The average availability of generics in
the private pharmacies was only 59%. Few originator brands were found.

Some treatments were simply not affordable for those on low wages paying
full prices. For example, the lowest paid unskilled government worker
has to work about 15 days a month to buy a month's supply of metformin
850mg (taking 2 tablets a day) - and that is buying the lowest priced
generic. The situation is not better for asthmatics. Buying one
salbutamol 100mcg/dose inhaler requires 11 days salary. Need
simvastatin? That requires 25 days salary for a month's supply - simply
unaffordable.

The people of Kyrgyzstan rely on the private sector to access medicines.
Based on this evidence, policy reforms are needed to make medicines more
affordable especially for the poor.

Regards

Margaret Ewen
Coordinator, Global Projects (Pricing)
HAI Global
Amsterdam
"Marg Ewen" <Marg@haiglobal.org>