Prices, availability and affordability of selected essential medicines for chronic diseases in Türkiye

Özler G., Işık O.

EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN HEALTH JOURNAL, cilt.29, sa.11, ss.850-860, 2023 (SSCI)

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 29 Sayı: 11
  • Basım Tarihi: 2023
  • Doi Numarası: 10.26719/emhj.23.117
  • Dergi Adı: EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN HEALTH JOURNAL
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI)
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.850-860
  • Hacettepe Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

Background: Fair access to essential medicines is a significant parameter in fulfilling the right to basic health.
Aim: We investigated the availability, prices and affordability of essential medicines for chronic diseases in Ankara,
Türkiye.
Methods: We used the procedures outlined in the WHO and Health Action International guidelines for measuring prices,
availability, affordability, and price components of medicines. The sample consisted of 334 (14%) of the 2354 pharmacies
in Ankara, and 24 essential medicines for cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, chronic respiratory diseases, and palliative
care, adopted from the WHO Model List of Essential Medicines (2021). We collected the data in 2021 using a questionnaire
administered through face-to-face survey and analysed the data using SPSS version 22.
Results: The findings showed that 15 medicines (62.5% of the selected medicines) met the 80% availability target set by
WHO, while 9 did not. The original medicines were more readily available than the generic ones. Among the original
medicines, furosemide (10.11) and acetylsalicylic acid (9.26) had the highest median price ratios. The generic medicines
seemed to be more affordable than original medicines. Glibenclamide, budesonide, gliclazide, and diazepam had low
availability and were sold at higher prices than their international reference prices.
Conclusion: This research highlights priority areas of action to improve access to affordable medicines for chronic
diseases in Ankara, Türkiye.