Medicine prices, availability, affordability and price components: a synthesis report of medicine price surveys undertaken in selected countries of the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region

Abstract

Reliable and sustainable access to esential medicines remains a challenge for about one-third of the world's population. Lack of transparency about the component costs contributing to the price of a medicine at the level where the patient accesses it, including the manufacturer's selling price, the taxes, distributor and retail margins has made it difficult to address this issue. This synthesis report brings together and describes the data from the various surveys conducted in the Region. This report is one of two commissioned by the Regional Office to synthesize the results of existing surveys in the Region and to relate them to existing medicines policies with a view to better understanding the pricing and availability of medicines and the efficacy of policy interventions which are available to governments