Availability, Sales, and Affordability of Tobacco Cessation Medicines in Kerala, India.

ABSTRACT:

Background

India is the world's second largest consumer of tobacco, but tobacco cessation remains uncommon due, at least in part, to underutilization of cessation pharmacotherapy. We evaluated the availability, sales, and affordability of nicotine replacement therapy, bupropion, and varenicline in the South Indian state of Kerala to understand potential reasons for underutilization.

Methods and results

From November 2016 to April 2017, we collected data on availability, inventory, and pricing of cessation medication through a cross-sectional survey of 199 public, semiprivate (Karunya), and private pharmacies across 5 districts in Kerala using World Health Organization/Health Action International methodology. Revenue and sales data were obtained from the latest Pharmatrac med

SUBMITTER: Sarma S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5726807 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature