Access to medicines: Case studies from Russia and Kyrgyzstan

Abstract

We report medicine prices, availability and affordability in Russia and Kyrgyzstan using the WHO/HAI methodology. In Kyrgyzstan, median prices of cardiovascular medicines were 6 times higher than in Russia, whilst their affordability was 9 times lower than in Russia for lowest-priced generics and 11 times lower for originator brands. Antihypertensive pharmacotherapy was affordable in Russia, but not in Kyrgyzstan (2015). We monitored patient and procurement prices in Russia (2010-2017) and documented success of government interventions in reduction of essential and cardiovascular patient prices from 2010 onwards to recommended values for generics in public sector and the need for continued price monitoring.