Objective ร To compare retail prices and manufacturers of drugs sold in pharmacies in the developing country Afghanistan.
Setting ร Jalalabad, Afghanistan, and pharmacies located around the secondary referral centre and teaching hospital Public Health hospital.
Design and methods ร Descriptive survey of 10 pharmacies, where hospital patients purchase medication. The pharmacies were interviewed about retail prices and manufacturers of paracetamol, chloroquine, metronidazole, ampicillin, and levamizole.
Results ร Paracetamol tablets were oered by eight dierent producers (seven in Pakistan, one in the United Kingdom). The price range per tablet was Afghani 15ยฑ120 (mean Afghani 59). The dierent manufacturers (six in Pakistan, two in the United Kingdom, one in Germany, one in India) oered paracetamol syrup with a price range per bottle between Afghani 800ยฑ3000 (mean Afghani 1544). Chloroquine tablets were oered by six dierent producers (one in Pakistan, one in China, one in France, one in Iran, one in India, one in Germany). The price range per tablet was Afghani 45ยฑ100 (mean Afghani 76). Three producers from Pakistan oered chloroquine ampoules and the price range was Afghani 250ยฑ1020 (mean Afghani 412). Chloroquine syrup was oered by 11 dierent producers (eight in Pakistan, one in Afghanistan, one in India, one in France). The price range was Afghani 500ยฑ 2000 (mean Afghani 1226). Metronidazole tablets were oered by ยฎve dierent producers (two in Pakistan, one in France, two in India). The price range was Afghani 60ยฑ300 (mean Afghani 175). Metronidazole syrup was oered by four dierent producers (three in Pakistan, one in France). The price range was Afghani 1000ยฑ4500 (mean Afghani 2800). Ampicillin capsules were oered by ยฎve dierent producers (one in Pakistan, one in the United Kingdom, one in India, two in Iran). The price range was Afghani 140ยฑ650 (mean Afghani 238). Ampicillin ampoules were oered by ยฎve dierent producers (one in China, one in Germany, one in India, one in France, one in Yugoslavia). The price range was Afghani 600ยฑ1700 (mean Afghani 1207). Ampicillin syrup was oered by eight dierent producers (six in Pakistan, one in China, one in the United Kingdom). The price range was Afghani 900ยฑ3500 (mean Afghani 2450). Levamizole tablets were oered by two producers from Pakistan, and three from India. The price range was Afghani 30ยฑ500 (mean Afghani 110).
Conclusion ร Up to 11 producers (chloroquine syrup) oered the same drug with price dierences up to 1600% (levamizole).
In developing countries with scarce resources for health care and no free health care, regulation and control of drugs could improve ecient use of resources and in hospital medicine patients should obtain all mediation from one supervised hospital pharmacy.