Abstract
Objectives: The objective of the study was to analyze the percentage cost variations among various brands of the commonly prescribed antihypertensive medicines in India. Methods: Cost of a particular medicine (cost per 10 tablets) in the same strength and dosage forms being produced by various pharmaceutical companies was taken from Current Index of Medical specialties and Drug Today. Difference between the highest and lowest cost of the same drug manufactured by various pharmaceutical industries was obtained and percentage cost variation was calculated. Results: The percentage variation in the price was above 100% with almost all of the commonly prescribed antihypertensive medicines. The cost of a total of 23 drugs (14 single and nine combination preparations), available in forty nine different formulations were studied. Overall, Amlodipine (5 mg) shows highest price difference of 982.3%, while Nifedipine (5 mg) shows lowest price difference of 39%. Telmisartan + Hydrochlorthiazide (80+12.5 mg) combinations shows highest price variation of 318.9%, while Amlodipine + Losartan (5+50 mg) shows lowest price difference of 50%. Conclusion: The average percentage price difference of the same antihypertensive medicine manufactured by various pharmaceuticals company in India is very huge. Hence, Government, Pharmaceutical companies, prescribing health care workers should educate themselves about huge variation in price of brand drugs in comparison with their cheap generic counterpart to provide maximum benefits with minimum financial burden to the patients receiving antihypertensive drugs.
Highlights
Price of a particular antihypertensive drug in the same dose and dosage forms being produced by various pharmaceutical companies was analyzed in rupees (INR) from “Current Index of Medical Specialties (CIMS)” July-October 2021 [10] and “Drug Today” Jan-April 2021.The price of drugs were cross checked at various pharmacy stores of Jhalawar district located at south eastern Rajasthan
The percentage variation in the price was above 100% with almost all of the commonly prescribed antihypertensive medicines
The percentage variation in the price was above 100% with almost all of the commonly prescribed antihypertensive drugs and with fixed dose combination formulations of antihypertensive drugs
Summary
Hypertension (HTN) is one of the most common chronic diseases causing high morbidity and mortality. Prices of drugs are one of the major factors of poor control of HTN in India, and it can result in development of various heart disease, cerebral stroke and chronic renal failure. Worldwide nearly one billion people had HTN in 2012 and medical scientist predicted that it will increase to two billion by 2030. The prevalence of hypertensive patients in India is reported to vary from 17 to 21% [1-3]. Reviews of various studies show that the prevalence of HTN in the past few decades has gone from 2% to 25% among urban people and from 2% to 15% among villagers in India [4]. Acquisition cost is very important factor in calculating a drug cost [5]. Drug compliance by patients directly depends on acquisition cost
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