Evaluating medicine prices, availability and affordability in Bangladesh using World Health Organisation and Health Action International methodology

Table 4 Affordability of 10 treatment regimens based on lowest government wage

Condition	Drug		Treatment parameters		Median unit cost (BDT)		Total treatment cost		Days wages to purchase treatment^a
			Duration (days)	Units per treatment	Private Retail	Private Clinics	Private Retail	Private Clinics	Private Retail	Private Clinics
Asthma	Salbutamol inhaler	LPG	as needed	200	0.98	0.98	195	195	0.71	0.71
		Originator			1.15	1.15	230	230	0.84	0.84
Diabetes	Metformin	LPG	30	90	4.00	4.00	360	360	1.31	1.31
Hypertension	Bisoprolol	LPG	30	60	10.00	10.00	600	600	2.18	2.18
Hypertension	Captopril	LPG	30	60	n.a.	2.85	n.a.	171	n.a.	0.62
Hyper-cholesterolaemia	Atorvastatin	LPG	30	30	10.00	10.00	300	300	1.09	1.09
Depression	Amitriptyline	LPG	30	90	1.75	1.75	158	158	0.57	0.57
Adult respiratory infection	Ciprofloxacin	LPG	7	14	15.00	15.00	210	210	0.76	0.76
Paediatric respiratory infection	Co-trimoxazole suspension	LPG	7	70	0.33	0.35	23	25	0.08	0.09
Adult respiratory infection	Amoxicillin	LPG	7	21	6.70	6.63	141	139	0.51	0.51
Adult respiratory infection	Ceftriaxone injection	LPG	7	1	190.00	190.00	190	190	0.69	0.69
Anxiety	Diazepam	LPG	7	7	0.69	0.69	5	5	0.02	0.02
Arthritis	Diclofenac	LPG	30	60	0.88	1.36	53	81	0.19	0.30
		Originator			8.50	8.50	510	510	1.85	1.85
Pain/inflammation	Paracetamol suspension	LPG	3	45	0.33	0.33	15	15	0.05	0.05
Ulcer	Omeprazole	LPG	30	30	5.00	5.00	150	150	0.55	0.55

Source: Authors’ Data
Note: n.a. = not applicable, denotes medicines with fewer than four price observations in the sector. LPG = Lowest Price Generic, Originator = Originator Brand (four or more price observations were only available for Salbutamol inhaler and Diclofenac). ^a Based on average daily wage of Tk 275

ISSN: 1472-6963