Evaluation of Availability, Prices, and Affordability of Selected Essential Medicines in Balochistan, Pakistan.

ABSTRACT: Objectives: The study aimed to evaluate the availability, prices, and affordability of selected essential medicines in Balochistan, Pakistan. Methods: Cross-sectional research was conducted in several cities of Balochistan, Pakistan, using the World Health Organization/Health Action International methodology to assess the availability and cost of 50 originator brand (OB) and lowest priced generic (LPG) drugs. The medicine costs were compared to international reference prices (IRPs) to calculate the median price ratio. The daily wage of the lowest paid unskilled government employee was used to determine affordability. Results: The mean availability was low for OBs (9.8%) and fairly high (49.4%) for LPGs. The OBs and LPGs' mean availability in the private sector were fai

SUBMITTER: Bibi M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9296778 | biostudies-literature | 2022

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature