Availability, prices, and affordability of essential medicines in Asia: A systematic review
Penulis/Author
Muhammad Qowiyul Amin (1); Prof. Dr. Susi Ari Kristina, S.Farm., M.Kes., Apt. (2); Prof. Dr. Satibi, S.Si., M.Si. Apt. (3)
Tanggal/Date
2024
Kata Kunci/Keyword
Abstrak/Abstract
Essential medicines are vital for healthcare, but nearly one-third of the global population faces challenges accessing
them. World Health Organization (WHO) and Health Action International (HAI) collaborated on a manual with
standardized methods for measuring drug availability, prices, and affordability to assist governments in formulating
effective policies. A systematic review was conducted to analyze the availability, pricing, and affordability of
essential medicines across several Asian countries. A comprehensive search was conducted across databases (Scopus,
PubMed, and Google Scholar). The review targeted studies that employed WHO-HAI methods. Articles predating
2018 and those not published in English were excluded, resulting in seven articles and subsequently presented
descriptively. The availability in the public sector is generally lower than in the private sector. Moreover, the overall
availability in public and private sectors falls below the targets set by the WHO global action plan. Private-sector
medicine prices were consistently higher than in the public sector. Affordability analysis showed that branded drugs
were less accessible compared to generic drugs, with a majority of medications requiring more than one day’s
income (1.1–5.2) for individuals to afford. The comprehensive assessment highlights the need for ongoing efforts
by authorities to regulate and improve the availability, pricing, and affordability of essential medicines to ensure
universal accessibility.
