Access to paediatric essential medicines: a survey of prices, availability, affordability and price components in Shaanxi Province, China.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To evaluate the prices and availability of paediatric essential medicines in Shaanxi Province, China.

Methods

Price and availability data for 28 paediatric essential medicines were collected from 60 public hospitals and 60 retail pharmacies in six areas of Shaanxi Province using a standardised methodology developed by the World Health Organization and Health Action International, during November to December 2012. Affordability was measured as the number of days' wages required for the lowest-paid unskilled government worker to purchase standard treatments for common conditions. Data on medicine price components were collected from hospitals, wholesalers and distributors to obtain price mark-ups.

Findings

The mean availabilities of originator brands (OBs) and

SUBMITTER: Wang X 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3940867 | biostudies-literature | 2014

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature