[Ip-health] HAI report on price, availability, and affordability of medicines for chronic diseases

[Mike Palmedo]

Full Report:
http://www.haiweb.org/medicineprices/30052006/CHRONICANN.pdf

Press release:
Health Action International

Price, availability and affordability. An international comparison of
chronic disease medicines

On 24 May at the World Health Assembly, HAI and WHO launched a report on
the price, availability and affordability of 14 chronic disease
medicines for the treatment of asthma, diabetes, epilepsy, hypertension
and psychiatric disorders. The report is an analysis of data from 30
surveys undertaken in all regions of the world using the WHO/HAI price
measurement methodology.

Key findings include:

    * government procurement prices are generally good but some
individual prices are high
    * availability is low, especially in the public sector
    * availability is generally better in the private sector but prices
are much higher
    * treatment is often unaffordable
    * some governments are applying numerous taxes
    * mark-ups can be excessive

Chronic diseases are a serious health issue, particularly because they
require long-term therapy. Effective medicines are available to treat
these diseases - but they are of no value if people can't afford to
purchase them or they are not available. HAI calls on governments to
urgently address issues of high prices, low availability, poor
affordability and control excessive costs from the manufacturer to the
patient.

You can access the full report (including all summary datasets) or a
shortened version (excluding datasets). Alternatively, order a print
copy of the report, with accompanying CDRom, from WHO by emailing
edmdoccentre@who.int (free of charge). Access summary datasheets on
http://mednet3.who.int/medprices/