Prices, availability and affordability of essential medicines in rural areas of Hubei Province, China. 2010

Hao Yang, and Hassan H Dib, and Minmin Zhu, and Gang Qi, and Xinping Zhang
Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 13 Hangkong Road, Wuhan, Hubei province, 430030, PR China.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the availability of essential medicines and their prices in Hubei province. METHODS The survey assessed the prices and availability of essential medicines using the World Health Organization and Health Action International methodology. Data were collected from 18 public hospitals and 18 private pharmacies. At each facility the availability and prices of 39 innovator brand medicines and lowest-price generic equivalent medicines were collected. Medicine prices were compared with international reference prices to obtain a median price ratio (MPR). Daily incomes of low and average levels were used to assess the affordability of the medicines. RESULTS Median availability in the public and private sectors was low (38.9% and 44.4% for lowest-price generics, respectively). The median MPRs of procurement prices for innovator brands and lowest-price generics in the public sector were 9.78 and 0.74 times the international reference prices; and the median MPRs of retail prices to patients for lowest-price generics in the public sector (1.04) were higher than those in the private sector (0.68). For most of the population, the medicine prices are affordable, but for those of low income they are not. CONCLUSIONS The survey revealed low procurement prices but poor availability in the public sector. Various policy adjustments could increase the availability of essential medicines and reduce their prices for the low income population.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D002681 China A country spanning from central Asia to the Pacific Ocean. Inner Mongolia,Manchuria,People's Republic of China,Sinkiang,Mainland China
D005252 Fees, Pharmaceutical Amounts charged to the patient or third-party payer for medication. It includes the pharmacist's professional fee and cost of ingredients, containers, etc. Fee, Pharmacy,Fees, Pharmaceutic,Pharmaceutical Fees,Pharmacy Fee,Fee, Pharmaceutic,Fee, Pharmaceutical,Fees, Pharmacy,Pharmaceutic Fee,Pharmaceutic Fees,Pharmaceutical Fee,Pharmacy Fees
D006297 Health Services Accessibility The degree to which individuals are inhibited or facilitated in their ability to gain entry to and to receive care and services from the health care system. Factors influencing this ability include geographic, architectural, transportational, and financial considerations, among others. Access To Care, Health,Access to Care,Access to Contraception,Access to Health Care,Access to Health Services,Access to Medications,Access to Medicines,Access to Therapy,Access to Treatment,Accessibility of Health Services,Availability of Health Services,Contraception Access,Contraceptive Access,Medication Access,Accessibility, Health Services,Contraceptive Availability,Health Services Geographic Accessibility,Program Accessibility,Access to Cares,Access to Contraceptions,Access to Medication,Access to Medicine,Access to Therapies,Access to Treatments,Access, Contraception,Access, Contraceptive,Access, Medication,Accessibilities, Health Services,Accessibility, Program,Availability, Contraceptive,Care, Access to,Cares, Access to,Contraception, Access to,Contraceptive Accesses,Health Services Availability,Medication Accesses,Medication, Access to,Medicine, Access to,Medicines, Access to,Therapy, Access to,Treatment, Access to
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D017059 Models, Econometric The application of mathematical formulas and statistical techniques to the testing and quantifying of economic theories and the solution of economic problems. Econometric Models,Econometric Model,Model, Econometric
D017149 Private Sector That distinct portion of the institutional, industrial, or economic structure of a country that is controlled or owned by non-governmental, private interests. Private Enterprise,Enterprise, Private,Enterprises, Private,Private Enterprises,Sector, Private
D017150 Public Sector The area of a nation's economy that is tax-supported and under government control. Public Domain,Public Enterprise,Domain, Public,Domains, Public,Enterprise, Public,Enterprises, Public,Public Domains,Public Enterprises,Public Sectors,Sector, Public,Sectors, Public
D018954 Drugs, Essential Drugs considered essential to meet the health needs of a population as well as to control drug costs. Essential Drugs
D019035 Rural Health Services Health services, public or private, in rural areas. The services include the promotion of health and the delivery of health care. Health Services, Rural,Rural Health Center,Services, Rural Health,Center, Rural Health,Centers, Rural Health,Health Center, Rural,Health Centers, Rural,Health Service, Rural,Rural Health Centers,Rural Health Service,Service, Rural Health
D019538 Health Care Surveys Statistical measures of utilization and other aspects of the provision of health care services including hospitalization and ambulatory care. Healthcare Surveys,National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey,National Hospital Discharge Survey,Care Survey, Health,Care Surveys, Health,Health Care Survey,Healthcare Survey,Survey, Health Care,Survey, Healthcare,Surveys, Health Care,Surveys, Healthcare

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