Medicine Prices Research Articles

Utilization of Herbal Medicine for Hemorrhoids

Hemorrhoids is a disease characterized by swollen blood vessels in the rectum or anus. This disease is caused by low consumption of fiber, spicy foods and alcoholic drinks. Symptoms that can be experienced by hemorrhoid sufferers are the appearance of lumps and bleeding when defecating. One treatment for this disease is through the use of herbal medicine, namely purple leaves. The aim of this research is to prove whether people now also use purple leaves as a treatment for hemorrhoids. This type of research is non-experimental using survey methods. The instrument used was a questionnaire. The research results show that the majority of hemorrhoid sufferers (80%) use purple leaves to reduce hemorrhoid symptoms. The price of purple leaf medicine is very competitive with conventional hemorrhoid medicine, so that 52% of hemorrhoid sufferers consume purple leaf regularly (although not when experiencing hemorrhoid symptoms).

Analyzing the financial viability and technical efficiency of aquaculture farming in Delta State, Nigeria: Lessons from cluster operations

This study delved into the comprehensive analysis of aquaculture farming in Delta State, specifically focusing on the financial viability and technical efficiency of cluster operations. As aquaculture plays a crucial in meeting global seafood demands, understanding the dynamics at the regional level become imperative. The study employed a multifaceted approach to assess the financial viability of aquaculture farming, technical efficiency of aquaculture production. By adopting a cluster based perspective, the research aims to unravel the intricacies of collaborative farming operations, identifying synergies that contribute to enhanced financial outcome. Insights garnered from this financial evaluation can provide stakeholders with strategic guidance for sustainable economic practices within the aquaculture sector. The research draws on a diverse set of data source, including financial records, production metrics, focus group discussions and questionnaire distributions. Statistical tools and econometric models are applied to quantify the relationships between various variables, providing a clear understanding of the factors influencing technical efficiency and financial Findings from this study showed that the price of labour, price of fish feeds and price of medicine had a significant effect on efficiency of aqua farming with a coefficient of 0.5468**,-0.7862**, -0.8896** respectively. The result of the technical efficiency , (25.0%) falls within the 0.71 - 0.8 range, indicating a high level of technical efficiency of aqua farmers. This is followed by those in the 0.31 - 0.4 and 0.51 - 0.6 ranges, each with 11.2% of farmers. In contrast. The result of the BCR showed a significant variation in profitability highlights of aqua farming operations in the study area are more financially rewarding, with a net return on investment (ROI) of 0.58. However, the technical efficiencies and productivities of aqua farmers in clusters were significantly high regardless of how biases were corrected, implying that participation in cluster group is positively related to increases in aqua farmers output.

Estimated Sustainable Cost-Based Prices for Diabetes Medicines

The burden of diabetes is growing worldwide. The costs associated with diabetes put substantial pressure on patients and health budgets, especially in low- and middle-income countries. The prices of diabetes medicines are a key determinant for access, yet little is known about the association between manufacturing costs and current market prices. To estimate the cost of manufacturing insulins, sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2Is), and glucagonlike peptide 1 agonists (GLP1As), derive sustainable cost-based prices (CBPs), and compare these with current market prices. In this economic evaluation, the cost of manufacturing insulins, SGLT2Is, and GLP1As was modeled. Active pharmaceutical ingredient cost per unit (weighted least-squares regression model using data from a commercial database of trade shipments, data from January 1, 2016, to March 31, 2023) was combined with costs of formulation and other operating expenses, plus a profit margin with an allowance for tax, to estimate CBPs. Cost-based prices were compared with current prices in 13 countries, collected in January 2023 from public databases. Countries were selected to provide representation of different income levels and geographic regions based on the availability of public databases. Estimated CBPs; lowest current market prices (2023 US dollars). In this economic evaluation of manufacturing costs, estimated CBPs for treatment with insulin in a reusable pen device could be as low as $96 (human insulin) or $111 (insulin analogues) per year for a basal-bolus regimen, $61 per year using twice-daily injections of mixed human insulin, and $50 (human insulin) or $72 (insulin analogues) per year for a once-daily basal insulin injection (for type 2 diabetes), including the cost of injection devices and needles. Cost-based prices ranged from $1.30 to $3.45 per month for SGLT2Is (except canagliflozin: $25.00-$46.79) and from $0.75 to $72.49 per month for GLP1As. These CBPs were substantially lower than current prices in the 13 countries surveyed. High prices limit access to newer diabetes medicines in many countries. The findings of this study suggest that robust generic and biosimilar competition could reduce prices to more affordable levels and enable expansion of diabetes treatment globally.

Cost and value of cancer medicines in a single-payer public health system in Ontario, Canada: a cross-sectional study

The financial impact of cancer medicines on health systems is not well known. We describe temporal trends in expenditure on cancer medicines within the single-payer health system of Ontario, Canada, and the extent of clinical benefit these treatments offer. In this cross-sectional study, we identified cancer medicines and expenditures from formularies and costing databases (the New Drug Funding Program, Ontario Drug Benefit Program, and The High-Cost Therapy Funding Program) during 10 consecutive years (April 1, 2012, to March 31, 2022) in Ontario, Canada. For intravenous medicines, we applied the European Society for Medical Oncology Magnitude of Clinical Benefit Scale (ESMO-MCBS) to identify expenditures associated with substantial clinical benefit. We also identified treatments associated with improved overall survival or quality of life. 69 intravenous and 98 oral or injectable medicines were funded during 2012-22. Annual expenditure on cancer medicines increased by approximately 15% per year during 2012-22; the increase was more rapid in the most recent 4 years. Total expenditure on cancer medicines in the 2021-22 financial year was CA$1·7 billion. Immune checkpoint inhibitors were the single biggest expense by class ($284 million), representing 17% of the entire cancer medicine annual budget. Drugs with the highest individual costs were lenalidomide ($178 million) and pembrolizumab ($163 million), each accounting for around 10% of the entire budget. 29 (76%) of 38 indications eligible for ESMO-MCBS scoring met the threshold for substantial clinical benefit. Eight (21%) indications had no randomised trial evidence of improved overall survival, and only four (11%) were associated with improved QOL. $346 million (67% of the expenditure on intravenous cancer medicines) was spent on drugs that improved median overall survival by more than 6 months, $82 million (16%) was spent on medicines with overall survival gains of 3-6 months, and $32 million (6%) was spent on medicines with overall survival gains of less than 3 months. $53 million (10%) was spent on medicines with no established improvement in overall survival. Costs of cancer medicines to the Canadian health system are increasing rapidly. Most funded indications met thresholds for substantial clinical benefit and two-thirds of the expenditure were for medicines that improve survival by more than 6 months. Whether this cost trajectory can be maintained in a sustainable, equitable, high-quality health system is unclear. Efforts are needed to ensure the price of medicines with substantial benefit is affordable and funding of treatments with very modest benefit might need to be re-assessed, particularly when alternative supportive and palliative therapies are available. None.

An exploration of factors influencing the selection of generic and innovator medicines in Saudi Arabia using an observational cross-sectional study

Background and objectivesGeneric medications are cost-effective without compromising therapeutic outcomes. Therefore, the goal of this study was to investigate, using a cross-sectional study design, the factors influencing Saudi Arabian consumers' preferences between innovator and generic medications. MethodsThis cross-sectional study was carried out in Saudi Arabia using a Google survey form. For data collection, a simple random sampling strategy was used. The recruited participants were surveyed using a validated questionnaire that focused on six influencing domains: physician, pharmacist, perceived effectiveness, price, information availability, and confidence based on prior experience. The obtained data was used to analyze factors that have an association with any of the six domains using multinomial regression analysis. A correlation analysis was performed to examine the relationship between domains. ResultsThe 317 participants included 64.4 % females, 52 % aged ≥ 26, and a large proportion of Saudi nationals (82.6 %) and university graduates (78.9 %). Being employed (OR:3.029; P = 0.006; CI: 6.715–1.366), a healthcare providers (OR:2.298; P = 0.043; CI: 5.151–1.025), and having insurance coverage (OR:1.908; P = 0.017; CI: 3.245–1.122) had a greater influence on medication selection. Participants with linguistic and business educational backgrounds (OR:3.443; P = 0.022; CI: 9.950–1.191), those living in the northern region of Saudi Arabia (OR:3.174; P = 0.009; CI: 7.585–1.328), having chronic ailments (OR:3.863; P = 0.013; CI: 11.274–1.324), and possess insurance (OR:1.748; P = 0.039; CI: 2.971–1.028) get readily influenced by pharmacist. People who were married and lived in Saudi Arabia's southern region were influenced by perceived effectiveness when choosing medicine. Participants from the northern region were found to be influenced by the price of the medicines, information about the medicines, and confidence based on previous experience. The price of medicines has a significant impact on those suffering from chronic diseases. At a significant level of P = 0.01, all six influencing domains were found to be positively correlated with each other. ConclusionThe study shows that healthcare providers, drug prices, perceived efficacy, and information availability all have a big influence on the Saudi Arabian population's choice of medications.Educational background, location, and chronic disease status are associated with several influencing domains. Aside from public awareness campaigns, healthcare professionals should be involved in the implementation of the generic medication policy.

Citizens' views on prices of medicines reimbursed by the National Health Service: Findings from Italian online focus groups.

Access to medicines is one of the biggest challenges to health systems, affecting society and individuals. This study aims to explore citizens' opinions, perceptionsand attitudes on the model of medicines' research and development (R&D) and price setting of medicines reimbursed by the Italian National Health Service. We run four online focus groups, analysed through thematic analysis. people aged 30-70 years, who had completed at least compulsory schooling (8-10 years), with no specialised knowledge about the subject. healthcare workers, pharmaceutical and device industry employees, researchersand medicine policy board members. We aimed to include a purposive sample of 20 participants, variable in terms of age, educational leveland place of residence. Eleven women and six men participated. The mean age was 53 years (range: 28-73). Most (n = 15) had a university degree or attended secondary schools. Eight had a job, five were not employed,and four were retired. In general, participants supported the role of the public health service. Almost all had limited knowledge of medicines' R&D and price setting. Most asked for transparency on medicine prices and negotiation criteria. Participants considered revenues of pharmaceutical companies disproportionateand most called for containment measures of profits. Most were in favour of a stronger public intervention in R&D and prices' negotiations. Few were sceptical of the public sector's ability to play this role. Medicines' prices were discussed as a health matter. Increasing citizens' awareness ofthese topics is needed by providing spaces and conditions to participate in the discussion, including different perspectives and interests. Members ofBEUC-the European consumer organisation-proposed the project. Altroconsumo, an independent consumer organisation and OCU, a Spanish consumer organisation, participated in developing the project and the main topics to discuss. The Mario Negri Institute and Aplica cooperative-the Spanish methodological team-were involved by BEUC and their national organisations to define the methodology, organisational aspectsand contentsand conducted the focus groups.

Prescription-based cost analysis of medicines for cardiovascular risk factors at Indian Council of Medical Research-Rational Use of Medicine Centre Hospitals of India.

India has taken several initiatives to provide health care to its population while keeping the related expenditure minimum. Since cardiovascular diseases are the most prevalent chronic conditions, in the present study, we aimed to analyze the difference in prices of medicines prescribed for three cardiovascular risk factors, based on (a) listed and not listed in the National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM) and (b) generic and branded drugs. Outpatient prescriptions for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and dyslipidemia were retrospectively analyzed from 12 tertiary centers. The prices of medicines prescribed were compared based on presence or absence in NLEM India-2015 and prescribing by generic versus brand name. The price was standardized and presented as average price per medicine per year for a given medicine. The results are presented in Indian rupee (INR) and as median (range). Of the 4,736 prescriptions collected, 843 contained oral antidiabetic, antihypertensive, and/or hypolipidemic medicines. The price per medicine per year for NLEM oral antidiabetics was INR 2849 (2593-3104) and for non-NLEM was INR 5343 (2964-14364). It was INR 806 (243-2132) for generic and INR 3809 (1968-14364) for branded antidiabetics. Antihypertensives and hypolipidemics followed the trend. The price of branded non-NLEM medicines was 5-22 times higher compared to generic NLEM which, for a population of 1.37 billion, would translate to a potential saving of 346.8 billion INR for statins. The variability was significant for sulfonylureas, angiotensin receptor blockers, beta-blockers, diuretics, and statins (P < 0.0001). The study highlights an urgent need for intervention to actualize the maximum benefit of government policies and minimize the out-of-pocket expenditure on medicines.

Availability of essential, generic medicines before and during COVID-19 at selected public pharmaceutical supply agencies in Ethiopia: a comparative cross-sectional study

ObjectivesLockdowns and border closures impacted medicine availability during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed to assess the availability of essential, generic medicines for chronic diseases at public pharmaceutical supply agencies...

Study of factors influencing the occurrence of conflicts in pharmacies

The aim of the study was to investigate the factors influencing the occurrence of conflicts in pharmacies during the provision of pharmaceutical care, with the subsequent goal of optimizing the social and psychological climate within the team and improving the quality of service to the population. Materials and methods. Systematic-analytical, mathematical statistical, comparative, and sociological research methods were employed in the study. Descriptive statistics were utilized to present the obtained data. To assess the significance of individual factors, the questionnaire results were converted into corresponding component weights (Wij). Results. The study of conflicts between visitors and pharmacy employees, from the point of view of visitors, revealed several key findings. Most customers expressed dissatisfaction with the prices of medicines and medical devices (Wij = 1.00). Additionally, there were concerns about the perceived quality of the products (Wi j= 0.67), and some customers reported feeling distressed due to the unavailability of necessary medicines (Wij = 0.57). The study, conducted from the point of view of employees, focused on conflicts between employees and visitors. The findings revealed that conflicts most often arise due to dissatisfaction with the prices of medicines and medical devices (Wij = 1.00). Additionally, issues such as requests to dispense over-the-counter medicines from the list of prescription drugs (Wij = 0.70) and returning medicines to the pharmacy after purchase (Wij = 0.67) were identified as contributing factors. The analysis of factors that provoke conflicts in the pharmacy team revealed several key contributors. The most significant include the inadequate behavior of employees (Wij = 1.00), inconsistency in words, assessments, and actions of some team members with the expectations and requirements of others (Wij = 0.89), and psychological incompatibility between employees (Wij = 0.88). The study of conflicts between the administration and subordinates in the pharmacy revealed frequent occurrences linked to several factors. Most notably, conflicts were associated with an imperfect bonus system (Wij = 1.00), high workload (Wij = 0.92), and a perceived lack of career development opportunities (Wij = 0.76). Conclusions. The factors that contribute to the emergence of conflict situations in pharmacies have been identified and studied. Approaches to preventing and resolving conflicts by pharmacy employees are proposed.

Impact of COVID-19 on inputs used in assistance in emergency care unit

Objective: To identify the impact of the pandemic on the consumption and costs of materials and medicines in an emergency care unit in a municipality located in the interior of the State of São Paulo. Method: This is a cross-sectional, retrospective study, with quantitative analysis of data from a health unit in the public pre-hospital network. Data were collected through management reports, generated by hospital management software, referring to the 12-month pre-pandemic period (January to December/2019), pandemic (July/2020 to June/2021) and the post-pandemic period (January to April/2023), being compared using the non-parametric Mann-Whitney test. Results: Most of the hospital supplies and medicines used to combat COVID-19 showed an increase in consumption and values above the parameters observed in the previous period and remained with values close to those practiced in the post-pandemic period. Conclusion: the increase in demand associated with the scarcity of products led to a sharp increase in the prices of inputs and medicines used to combat COVID-19, later reflecting on the costs of the institution in the studied unit.

Access in all areas? A round up of developments in market access and health technology assessment: part 3.

In this latest update, we explore some of the key updates in market access over recent months including the UK's voluntary scheme for branded medicines pricing, access and growth (VPAG), the first drugs funded by the Innovative Medicines Fund in the UK and the Direct Access Scheme in France, and, finally, the new Institute for Clinical and Economic Review (ICER) value assessment framework in the USA.

Out-of-pocket healthcare expenditure in emerging economies: Evidence from panel data analysis.

Achieving universal health coverage is one of the prominent targets of the United Nations' sustainable development goals. Reducing out-of-pocket expenditure (OOPE) is essential because high OOPE can deter the use of healthcare services, which can lead to poor health outcomes and medical impoverishment. The study sought to determine the effects of various factors such as Domestic General Government Health Expenditure, Gross Domestic Product, Government schemes and compulsory contributory healthcare financing schemes, and Voluntary health insurance schemes on OOPE per Capita in emerging economies. Econometric methods using panel data. The study analyzed the publicly available panel data from the World Health Organization using fixed, random, and dynamic models. Domestic General Government Health Expenditure and Gross Domestic Product are associated with an increase in OOPE. Government schemes, compulsory contributory healthcare financing schemes, and voluntary health insurance programs are linked to a reduction in OOPE. In conclusion, this study, conducted through econometric methods on panel data, sheds light on the critical importance of reducing OOPE to achieve universal health coverage, aligning with the United Nations' sustainable development goals. Countries shall implement a holistic approach focusing on preventive healthcare and health promotion, providing comprehensive health insurance, strengthening public health systems, and regulating medicine prices.

Pricing of medicines as a factor influencing access to treatment

The article is devoted to the topic of access to treatment, and the issue of pricing as one of the factors that significantly affect the ability of the population to access treatment through the purchase of medicines, including expensive branded medicines that are not covered by government programs that provide such medicines free of charge. High medication costs can pose substantial barriers, particularly for those not covered by state programs, exacerbating health inequalities and hindering widespread access to necessary treatments.&#x0D; The article focuses on the existence of two pricing systems in the pharmaceutical market, namely, the state and market pricing. The aforementioned pricing systems are among the mechanisms for providing pharmaceutical care to the population in Ukraine. It is also argued that pricing is based on demand, cost, supply, and commodity and money circulation.&#x0D; The article presents the US experience of pricing and the problems of consumers who face the need to overpay for branded medicines by a significant number of times compared to European consumers.&#x0D; This dynamic reflects the delicate balance between the pharmaceutical industry’s need for fair returns on innovation investments and the imperative to make essential treatments financially accessible to the broader population.&#x0D; It is noted that the high price of medicines is due to the influence of numerous factors, including increased demand, insufficient supply of cheaper generic drugs on the pharmaceutical market, patent protection, and significant investment in the development and research of new medicines. At the same time, it is argued that the use of managed access agreements, along with both state and market pricing, can be a deterrent to the growth of prices for branded innovative medicines.

A systematic scoping review of medicine availability and affordability in Africa

BackgroundThe most recent World Medicines Situation Report published in 2011 found substantial medicine availability and affordability challenges across WHO regions, including Africa. Since publication of the 2011 report, medicine availability and affordability has risen on the international agenda and was included in the Sustainable Development Goals as Target 3.8. While numerous medicine availability and affordability studies have been conducted in Africa since the last World Medicines Situation Report, there has not been a systematic analysis of the methods used in these studies, measures of medicine availability and affordability, categories of medicines studied, or geographic distribution. Filling this knowledge gap can help inform future medicine availability and affordability studies, design systems to monitor progress toward Sustainable Development Goal Target 3.8 in Africa and beyond, and inform policy and program decisions to improve medicine availability and affordability.MethodsWe conducted a systematic scoping review of studies assessing medicine availability or affordability conducted in the WHO Africa region published from 2009–2021.ResultsTwo hundred forty one articles met our eligibility criteria. 88% of the articles (213/241) reported descriptive studies, while 12% (28/241) reported interventional studies. Of the 198 studies measuring medicine availability, the most commonly used measure of medicine availability was whether a medicine was in stock on the date of a survey (124/198, 63%). We also identified multiple other availability methods and measures, including retrospective stock record reviews and self-reported medicine availability surveys. Of the 59 articles that included affordability measures, 32 (54%) compared the price of the medicine to the daily wage of the lowest paid government worker. Other affordability measures were patient self-reported affordability, capacity to pay measures, and comparing medicines prices with a population-level income standard (such as minimum wage, poverty line, or per capita income). The most commonly studied medicines were antiparasitic and anti-bacterial medicines. We did not identify studies in 22 out of 48 (46%) countries in the WHO Africa Region and more than half of the studies identified were conducted in Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, and/or Uganda.ConclusionOur results revealed a wide range of medicine availability and affordability assessment methodologies and measures, including cross-sectional facility surveys, population surveys, and retrospective data analyses. Our review also indicated a need for greater focus on medicines for certain non-communicable diseases, greater geographic diversity of studies, and the need for more intervention studies to identify approaches to improve access to medicines in the region.

Quality and potency of government-subsidized antibiotics in hospitals Jakarta, Indonesia

Several pharmaceutical companies have long complained that the price of medicines that win the e-catalogue tender is too low, in some cases even below the cost of production. However, it should not be a concern that only pharmaceutical products with regulation of Indonesian food and drug (BPOM) distribution licenses are eligible for the price tender, as they are of good quality. This study aims to determine the quality and potency of three antibiotic drugs based on their highest utilization (DU 90%) in pneumonia patients at two hospitals, A (ceftriaxone, azithromycin tablet) and B (ceftriaxone, levofloxacin infusion) compared to brand name. The quality of the samples was evaluated following the Indonesian Pharmacopoeia 6th Edition (FI-VI). Antibiotic potency was assessed using the Plate-Cylinder Method with K. pneumonia from human and S. pneumonia ATCC 10015 as the test bacteria evaluated following CLSI. All samples meet the criteria of FI-VI antibiotic content, weight uniformity, dissolution. Antibiotic potency all samples test S.pneumonia and K.pneumonia were sensitive but ceftriaxone test with K.pneumonia was resistance. All antibiotic tablets and injections studied met the requirements of the Indonesian Pharmacopoeia Edition 6 for active medicinal ingredient content, dosage weight uniformity, and dissolution. All drugs from hospitals (INN) have lower antibiotic potency than branded drugs. This highlight the importance of conducting microbiological testing on antibiotic preparations.

Availability, prices, and affordability of essential medicines in Asia: A systematic review

Essential medicines are vital for healthcare, but nearly one-third of the global population faces challenges accessing them. World Health Organization (WHO) and Health Action International (HAI) collaborated on a manual with standardized methods for measuring drug availability, prices, and affordability to assist governments in formulating effective policies. A systematic review was conducted to analyze the availability, pricing, and affordability of essential medicines across several Asian countries. A comprehensive search was conducted across databases (Scopus, PubMed, and Google Scholar). The review targeted studies that employed WHO-HAI methods. Articles predating 2018 and those not published in English were excluded, resulting in seven articles and subsequently presented descriptively. The availability in the public sector is generally lower than in the private sector. Moreover, the overall availability in public and private sectors falls below the targets set by the WHO global action plan. Private-sector medicine prices were consistently higher than in the public sector. Affordability analysis showed that branded drugs were less accessible compared to generic drugs, with a majority of medications requiring more than one day’s income (1.1–5.2) for individuals to afford. The comprehensive assessment highlights the need for ongoing efforts by authorities to regulate and improve the availability, pricing, and affordability of essential medicines to ensure universal accessibility.

The impact of inflation on medicine prices in Nigeria: a comparative analysis of public and private pharmacies

The impact of inflation on medicine prices in Nigeria: a comparative analysis of public and private pharmacies

Access to essential medicines used in the management of noncommunicable diseases in Southern Ethiopia: Analysis using WHO/HAI methodology.

This study aims to assess access to essential medicines used in the management of noncommunicable diseases through analysis of the availability, prices, and affordability of these essential medicines in Arba Minch town, Gamo Zone, Southern Ethiopia. A cross-sectional design was carried out using the World Health Organization/health action international methodology between 2 March and 2 May 2023, within public and private healthcare facilities located in Arba Minch town, Southern Ethiopia. The median price ratio served as a metric. Statistical tests like the Shapiro-Wilk and Kolmogorov-Smirnov were utilized to assess the normal distribution of price data. The Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney U test was also employed to compare median buyer's prices (patient prices) between public and private healthcare institutions. Treatment affordability was determined by estimating the number of days' wages required by the lowest-paid government employee in Ethiopia to afford the prescribed medication regimen. Among 23 health facilities surveyed, the pooled availability of essential medicine used in the management of noncommunicable diseases was 18.7% (range: 0%-30.1%), with the public and private facilities contributing 16.3% and 38.3%, respectively. The overall percentage of availability originator brand versions was 1.1% for overall health sectors, 0.6% for public sectors, and 1.2% for private sectors. The overall percent availability of lowest price generics was 36.2% (range: 0%-26.2%; public: 32.0%; private: 37.1%). Only seven lowest price generics satisfied the World Health Organization target of 80% and above. The overall median price of lowest price generic medicines in private was two times higher than in public sectors. The top five median price scorers were amlodipine, furosemide, insulin, beclomethasone, and salbutamol. The Mann-Whitney U test showed that 11.6% of lowest price generics medicines had a statistically significant median price disparity between the public and private sectors (p < 0.05). The overall percent of unaffordability was found to be 100.0%, (public: 70.4; private: 100.0%). This study revealed the limited availability and potential financial burdens on patients seeking essential noncommunicable disease medications. Limited availability suggests the need for better supply chain management and consistent stock availability. The price disparities and affordability challenges identified underscore the necessity for policy interventions such as price regulation and subsidized programs to ensure equitable access to essential noncommunicable disease medications in Arba Minch town, Southern Ethiopia.

Competition protection and social orientation in the pharmaceutical market: Regional aspects

In the article the processes connected with the development of the domestic pharmaceutical market and the formation of biopharmaceutical and medical clusters, as well as the nuclear educational cluster in the Kaluga Oblast are studied. The results of the conducted scientific work allowed to formulate a number of features characterizing the modern pharmaceutical market: positive dynamics of development, state support of the competitive environment, reliance on innovative projection of digital technologies and the triple helix model, clearly expressed social function of providing the population with medicines. Proven long-term development prospects and effective results of the implementation of cluster policy, carried out within the framework of domestic and international trends, leading countries and companies of the world, integrating technological innovation (bioengineering, biotechnology, biomedicine). In recent years, the provisions of the Strategy for the Development of the Pharmaceutical Industry of the Russian Federation for the period up to 2030 have been actively implemented. Kaluga Oblast is purposefully improving its activities on the formation of modern cluster policy, the priority direction of which is the development of the cluster of innovative pharmaceuticals, biomedicine, bioengineering and biotechnology. The creative orientation of nuclear and radiological scientists in their scientific research was not limited to narrow specialization, but made a breakthrough in pharmacology, medicine and biology. And innovative knowledge is brought to the stage of commercialization, objectively giving a new projection to the conditions of formation of the pharmaceutical market, which acquires features of constructive competition, creating socially oriented mechanisms of cost management, which leads to lower prices of medicines.

Biotechnological sovereignty is not a mere nationalist concept, it is a necessity for Colombia and Latin America.

During the pandemic, Latin American countries suffered the collapse of their health systems. This was caused by the high demand for care of patients infected with SARS-CoV-2, which was added to the care of patients with other diseases. The significant increase in demand for health services caused medical and laboratory supplies to decline rapidly. The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated a health crisis in several developing countries, mainly caused by insufficient systematic policies for integrating scientific knowledge. The current Colombian government must formulate a Biotechnological or Biosecurity Sovereignty Law that guarantees scientific autonomy, ensuring that Colombia is self-sufficient in Science, Technology, and Innovation. Colombian government should also focus on establishing and developing pharmaceutical chemical production by acquiring active chemical ingredients from other countries. This strategy could reduce the production costs and final prices of medicines, as well as generate high-level employment and wealth for the country. In this way, the Colombian government could prevent shortage of essential medicines and excessive price increases by commercial intermediation. In conclusion, the manuscript focuses on the lack of biotechnological sovereignty in Colombia. We propose a model of a Latin American Science and Technology ecosystem to achieve biotechnological sovereignty via state funding of research, strengthening universities, and fostering participation among private companies and Ministries of Science, Education, Trade, and Health. Scientific autonomy based on innovative processes that strengthen biotechnological independence can contribute to the economy by generating gross added value, creating high-quality employment, and facilitating the appropriation and social dissemination of knowledge, and cost reduction.