RE: [india-drug] NPPA to look into the difference in bulk and retailprices (2)

["anita kotwani" <anitakotwani@msn.com>]

  NPPA to look into the difference in bulk and retailprices (2)
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 Dear All,

   We  have  done  seven surveys in different states of India to find out
   the prices and availability of a basket of essential medicines in both
   public  and  private  sector using  a standardized methodology developed by WHO-HAi  was  used.  Six surveys were conducted simultaneously between October-December  2004.  The  synthesis  paper of these six surveys is recently  published in May issue of Indian Journal of Medical research
   (  Kotwani a et al. Prices and availability of common medicines at six
   sites in India using a standardized methodology. Indian J Med Res 125,
   645-654, 2007)
   At  all the survey sites (Haryana, Karnataka, Maharashtra, west Bengal
   and Chennai) it was found that diazepam 5 mg in the private sector was
   33 times (average) its procurement price in the public sector.

   A survey was conducted in Rajasthan utilizing the same methodology and
   it  was  found  that  the  lowest  priced generic available in private
   retail shops of diazepam, diclofenac and albendazole was 26, 14 and 18
   times higher than the public sector procurement price.

   These  surveys  have  clearly shown that prices of essential medicines
   are  many  times  higher  in  retail shops than government procurement
   price. The price data was collected from the retail shops and not from
   any reference book or MIMS.

   Government has to look into the matter and must take steps to increase
   access to medicines.

   Best,

   Anita Kotwani

   Department of Pharmacology

   V.P.C.I, Delhi University of Delhi

   anitakotwani@msn.com
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