MEDICINE CHARGE

In the context of Hypro Diagnostics, this investigation sought to evaluate the cost and affordability of prescribed medications within private pharmacies across Delhi, India. Recognizing the substantial impact of medication expenses on healthcare accessibility, particularly for economically disadvantaged populations, the survey focused on analyzing prescription costs, with a specific emphasis on the treatment of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). The study involved the examination of purchases from 27 private pharmacies in the region. The study’s outcomes highlighted a noteworthy variation in prescription costs, averaging 129.37 ± 217.99. The treatment costs for CAP displayed significant diversity, ranging from 34.50 to 244.75 with azithromycin and 72.20 to 277.30 with levofloxacin. To gauge the affordability of these medications, the analysis compared treatment costs to the monthly per capita expenditure (MPCE) on food, as well as the minimum monthly and daily wages for various classes of workers. The results indicated that, on average, urban and rural populations spent 17.64% and 23.4% of their MPCE on food, respectively, for a prescription. Furthermore, the percentage of MPCE on food allocated for CAP treatment varied between 10.11% to 13.42% with azithromycin and 13.28% to 17.61% with levofloxacin. The study also quantified the number of days a worker on minimum daily wages would need to work to afford their prescription medications, ranging from 1 to 17 days, depending on the specific medical condition. Specifically, the cost of treating CAP translated to 1-3 days of work for a daily wage earner, contingent on the prescribed medicine brand. These findings underscore the substantial economic burden of medication expenses and emphasize the necessity for strategies to enhance medication affordability, especially for vulnerable populations, aligning with the objectives of Hypro Diagnostics.