An Analysis of Accessibility of Representative Psychotropic Medicine From the World Health Organization Model List of Essential Medicines in Developing Countries With Different Income Levels

Abstract

ObjectivesThe objective of this study was to analyze the accessibility of psychotropic medicine in developing countries based on the availability, price, and affordability indicators to create international evidence to guide the development of policies on the accessibility of medicines. MethodsThis study included 5 types of psychotropic medicines listed in the 22nd edition of the World Health Organization Model List of Essential Medicines published by the World Health Organization in 2021. Derived from 84 surveys in 59 countries, this study summarizes the availability, price, and affordability of originator branded drugs (OBs) and lowest-price generic drugs (LPGs) in the public and private sectors and compares them based on income levels in different countries. ResultsThe average availability of psychotropic medicine was 45% in low- and lower-middle-income countries (LLMICs) compared with 49% in high- and upper-middle-income countries (HUMICs) whereas the availability of LPGs was higher than that of OBs in all country groups. The average patient price for OBs and LPGs was 94.0 and 23.2, respectively, and the overall patient price of psychotropic medicine in LLMICs was higher than that in HUMICs. The affordability of psychotropic medicine in LLMICs was lower than that in HUMICs. ConclusionsPsychotropic medicines in lower-middle-income countries have lower availability, a higher average patient price, and lower average affordability than in HUMICs, which requires lower-middle-income countries to take effective and various measures to improve the accessibility of psychotropic medicine.