Zongjie Li1,2,3, Qinqin Feng4, John Alimamy Kabba1,2,3, Caijun Yang1,2,3, Jie Chang1,2,3, Minghuan Jiang1,2,3, Mingyue Zhao1,2,3, Jiale Yu1,2,3, Sen Xu1,2,3, Qian Li1,2,3, Panpan Zhai1,2,3, Yu Fang1,2,3. 1. Department of Pharmacy Administration and Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China. 2. Center for Drug Safety and Policy Research, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China. 3. Shaanxi Center for Health Reform and Development Research, Xi'an, China. 4. Department of Drug and Equipment, No. 521 Hospital of Ordnance Industry, Xi'an, China.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate price, availability and affordability of insulin products in Shaanxi Province, western China. METHODS: We used a simplified and adapted WHO/Health Action International method to obtain the availability and prices of insulin products and five oral anti-diabetic medicines as comparators in public general hospitals and private retail outlets. In addition, we investigated the price components of eight selected insulin products by tracing the supply chain. RESULTS: All three kinds of insulin products, prandial, basal and premixed insulin, are 100% available in public hospitals, and have fairly high availability in the private sector (62.5-68.8%). The prices of most insulin products were higher than international reference prices in both sectors (ranging from 0.95 times to 2.33 times). All insulin products were unaffordable as they would cost 3.5-17.1 days' wage of the lowest-paid government workers in Shaanxi. The manufacturer's markup (selling price), which comprised more than 60% of the final price of all insulin products surveyed, was the largest price component. CONCLUSIONS: Although availability of insulin products was high in public general hospitals and private retail pharmacies, their high price made them unaffordable to diabetes patients, especially low-income patients. The government should increase insurance compensation for those who need these life-saving medicines or decrease the cost of insulin products through negotiation with suppliers.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate price, availability and affordability of insulin products in Shaanxi Province, western China. METHODS: We used a simplified and adapted WHO/Health Action International method to obtain the availability and prices of insulin products and five oral anti-diabetic medicines as comparators in public general hospitals and private retail outlets. In addition, we investigated the price components of eight selected insulin products by tracing the supply chain. RESULTS: All three kinds of insulin products, prandial, basal and premixed insulin, are 100% available in public hospitals, and have fairly high availability in the private sector (62.5-68.8%). The prices of most insulin products were higher than international reference prices in both sectors (ranging from 0.95 times to 2.33 times). All insulin products were unaffordable as they would cost 3.5-17.1 days' wage of the lowest-paid government workers in Shaanxi. The manufacturer's markup (selling price), which comprised more than 60% of the final price of all insulin products surveyed, was the largest price component. CONCLUSIONS: Although availability of insulin products was high in public general hospitals and private retail pharmacies, their high price made them unaffordable to diabetespatients, especially low-income patients. The government should increase insurance compensation for those who need these life-saving medicines or decrease the cost of insulin products through negotiation with suppliers.
Authors: Yazed AlRuthia; Ohud H Bahari; Suliman Alghnam; Ali M Alrumaih; Hassan Asiri; Mohammed Alshammari; Mansour Alhowimel; Hana A Al-Abdulkarim Journal: Front Public Health Date: 2022-06-13
Authors: Omolola R Oyenihi; Marlon E Cerf; Motlalepula G Matsabisa; Nicole L Brooks; Oluwafemi O Oguntibeju Journal: Saudi J Biol Sci Date: 2021-09-06 Impact factor: 4.219