Study Finds People In Poorer Nations Might Be Paying More For Same Essential Drugs, Compared To Rich Countries

An analysis of prices of about 550 medicines across 72 countries in 2022 has found that people in lowand middle-income nations could be paying more compared to wealthier ones for the same essential drugs, thereby placing a disproportionate cost burden on patients in poorer nations.

- Press Trust Of India

Researchers from the US’ Brown University and London School of Economics and Political Science (UK) said that ‘nominal price’ or the price stated on a medicine was higher in richer countries. However, upon accounting for purchasing power in the local currency, actual prices were found to be higher in poorer countries.

They estimated that the typical number of doses of essential medicines consumed per person in 2022 was highest in Europe (634) and lowest in Southeast Asia (143).

The results, published in The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) Health Forum, indicate that poorer countries face a higher burden of medicine costs, the authors said.