E-DRUG: Untangling the web 10th edition
----------------------------------------
Dear colleagues,
At the bottom of this message you will find the link to the 10th (July
2007) edition of Untangling the web of price reductions: a pricing guide
for the purchase of ARVs for developing countries, prepared by Medecins
Sans Frontieres' Campaign for Access to Essential Medicines. This
publication provides information in simple table format about the prices
and suppliers of antiretroviral drugs in developing countries.
The prices listed are selling prices as quoted from the manufacturers. 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 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. 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.
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.
Similarly, this report is a pricing guide and does not include information
about the quality of the products listed. But price should not be the only
factor determining procurement decisions. Readers and purchasers wishing to
obtain more information about drug quality are encouraged to consult Pilot
Procurement, Quality and Sourcing Project: Access to HIV/AIDS Drugs and
Diagnostics of Acceptable Quality (known as WHO prequalification list).
Not all the products listed in this report have been prequalified by WHO,
and only some of them are used by MSF in its own projects.
In the report, MSF analyzes the limitations of price offers. The problems
fall into three categories: 1) some single source drugs are very expensive,
2) prices are not really available as advertised in developing countries
because some companies do not register their products in poor countries,
and 3) some companies do not offer discounted prices in middle income
countries.
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.
A hard copy of the new edition of the Untangling will be available soon (in
preparation).
http://www.accessmed-msf.org/documents/Untangling10.pdf
Fernando Pascual Martinez
MSF Campaign for Access to Essential Medicines
Fernando.PASCUAL@geneva.msf.org