Availability, affordability and access to essential medications for asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in three low- and middle-income country settings.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Despite the rising burden of chronic respiratory disease globally, and although many respiratory medications are included in the World Health Organization Essential Medications List (WHO-EML), there is limited information concerning the availability and affordability of treatment drugs for respiratory conditions in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

Methods

All public and private pharmacies in catchment areas of the Global Excellence in COPD outcomes (GECo) study sites in Bhaktapur, Nepal, Lima, Peru, and Nakaseke, Uganda, were approached in 2017-2019 to assess pricing and availability of medications for the management of asthma and COPD.

Results

We surveyed all 63 pharmacies in respective study areas in Nepal (95.2% private), 104 pharmacies in Per

SUBMITTER: Siddharthan T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10021856 | biostudies-literature | 2022

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature