Showing papers in "International Journal of Scientific & Technology Research in 2010"

Essential Medicines Availability and Affordability ; A case study of the Top Ten Registered Diseases in Builsa District

Abstract: The survey was a cross sectional descriptive study, that employed both quantitative and qualitative approaches, following the standardized World Health Organization and Health Action International (WHO/ HAI) methodology (WHO and HAI, 2008a). Price and availability data for 29 medicines were collected from 11 service delivery facilities and 4 private licensed chemical sellers' stores. Medicine prices were compared with international reference prices (IRPs) to obtain a median price ratio. The daily wage of the lowest paid unskilled government worker was used to gauge the affordability of medicines. The mean availability of 29 essential medicines was 64.1% (SD ± 24.1) for all the medicines outlets. The mean availability of 20 essential medicines for the Clinic and Health Centre levels was 85.0 % (SD ± 17) higher than the private Licensed Chemical Sellers 71.3 % (SD ± 35.6). The mean availability of 10 essential medicines for Community Health Services levels was 62.5 % (SD ± 41.1) and lower than the private Licensed Chemical Sellers 77.5 % (SD ± 32.2). Artesunate+Amodiaquine used as first line for malaria treatment was found in 80% of medicine outlets. The prices of medicines to patients were high at the public sector facilities with a comparative Median Price Ratio (MPR) of 1.84 times international reference prices, while that of the private sector was 2.05 times. The average treatment for adult disease conditions was not affordable at 1.67 days' wage, but 0.78 days' wage for a child's disease condition. The availability of essential medicines for the treatment of the top ten diseases of 2009 in the Builsa district is quite acceptable. The average cost of treatment for the common diseases was unaffordable, with the median price ratio of medicines above the acceptable range of 1.5 for public facilities.