E-DRUG: WHO-HAI survey of essential medicines in Boston USA
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E-Druggers,
May I draw your attention to a recently published article about medicines availability and prices in Boston that used the WHO/HAI methodology.
Here is the reference
Title: Evaluating availability and price of essential medicines in Boston area (Massachusetts, USA) using WHO/HAI methodology
Authors: Sharma Abhishek, Rorden Lindsey, Ewen Margaret, Laing Richard,
Journal: Journal of Pharmaceutical Policy and Practice. 2016, 9:12
DOI: 10.1186/s40545-016-0059-5
URL: http://www.joppp.org/content/9/1/12
You can also access and share the article from http://www.joppp.org/content/9/1/12/email?from=email
Here is the abstract:
Abstract
Background: Many patients even those with health insurance pay out-of-pocket for medicines. We investigated the availability and prices of essential medicines in the Boston area.
Methods: Using the WHO/HAI methodology, availability and undiscounted price data for both originator brand (OB) and lowest price generic (LPG) equivalent versions of 25 essential medicines (14 prescription; 11 over-the counter (OTC)) were obtained from 17 private pharmacies. The inclusion and prices of 26 essential medicines in
seven pharmacy discount programs were also studied. The medicine prices were compared with international reference prices (IRPs).
Results: In surveyed pharmacies, the OB medicines were less available as compared to the generics. The OB and LPG versions of OTC medicines were 21.33 and 11.53 times the IRP, respectively. The median prices of prescription medicines were higher, with OB and LPG versions at 158.14 and 38.03 times the IRP, respectively. In studied
pharmacy discount programs, the price ratios of surveyed medicines varied from 4.4-13.9.
Conclusions: While noting the WHO target that consumers should pay no more than four times the IRPs, medicine prices were considerably higher in the Boston area. The prices for medicines included in the pharmacy discount programs were closest to WHO's target. Consumers should shop around, as medicine inclusion and prices vary across discount programs. In order for consumers to identify meaningful potential savings through comparison shopping, price transparency is needed.
The two lead authors Abhishek Sharma and Lindsey Rorden were MPH students when they collected the data with their class mates for a course that I teach on Analyzing Pharmaceutical Systems. Margaret Ewen from HAI taught sessions by Skype and helped with the analysis and write up.
If any E-Druggers live in the US or other high income countries may I encourage you to repeat the survey in the city where you live so we can build up a better picture of Medicine Prices and Availability.
My fellow authors and I would welcome your comments,
Richard
Richard Laing
Professor International Health
Boston University School of Public Health,
801 Massachusetts Avenue Boston MA 02118
http://www.bu.edu/pharm/the-program/
E mail richardl@bu.edu