| Penulis/Author |
Muhammad Qowiyul Amin (1); Prof. Dr. Satibi, S.Si., M.Si. Apt. (2); Prof. Dr. Susi Ari Kristina, S.Farm., M.Kes., Apt. (3) ; Dr. apt. Dwi Endarti, S.F., M.Sc. (4); Tuangrat Phodha (5) |
| Abstrak/Abstract |
Background: Access to essential medicines is a fundamental component of the right to health. In many Asian countries, particularly those with constrained public healthcare financing, medicines constitute a significant portion of household health expenditures. In response to escalating medicine costs, numerous governments have implemented pricing policies designed to enhance financial access to safe and quality medicines. This systematic review aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of pharmaceutical pricing policies across various Asian countries, emphasizing the unique challenges and opportunities within this diverse region.
Methods: A thorough literature search was conducted across multiple databases, including Scopus, Web of Science, and DOAJ. Eligible studies focused on the implementation of various pricing policies in Asian countries, assessing their impacts on availability, pricing, or affordability. Studies published prior to 2018 and those not available in English were systematically excluded from this review.
Results: Nine articles met the eligibility criteria and were included in the qualitative synthesis, representing several countries, including China, Pakistan, Iran, Qatar, Lebanon, South Korea, Turkey, and Malaysia. External reference pricing was identified as the most commonly employed policy, with some countries combining it with additional regulations, such as markup regulation in Qatar and Lebanon, and fixed currency rates in Turkey. Other countries implemented price negotiations alongside value-based pricing, cost containment strategies, and low-cost medicine policies. Some studies also evaluated the impacts of eliminating drug ceiling prices and the absence of drug pricing control mechanisms.
Conclusion: Strategies tailored to local contexts have resulted in improved drug availability, price reductions, and greater price uniformity. However, certain essential medicines remain unaffordable. Each regulatory approach presents distinct advantages and challenges, underscoring the necessity for a combination of multiple policies to effectively address these issues.
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