Pharmacoeconomics of selected essential medicines for common ailments in Sonipat District, Haryana, India

Abstract

Inappropriate access of essential medicines contributes substantially to out-of-budget expense. Out-of-pocket expenditure makes a vital (up to 70%) health expenditure in India. This research study was conducted to investigate the comparative relative price to patient of selected essential medicines used for common ailments in Sonipat city. A research study on a price-to-be-paid to patient of selected essential medicines for selected common ailments was conducted. Standardized methodology of World Health Organization and Health Action International was employed. Prices were compared to an International Reference Price (Median Price Ratio). The study was conducted on all the two hundred retail pharmacy outlets attached to all residential areas of Sonipat city. The difference between lowest price and highest price (of available medicine) ranged from 0.30 - 40% in case of antimicrobials and 0.17 - 3.4% in case of antiulcers, antiemetics and analgesics. Dissemination of well documented information on affordability to medicine consumers may enhance consumer demand for lower price medicine and thus may serve to enhance the availability of demanded medicine in all the areas of Sonipat city.