Out of Pocket Payment and Affordability of Medication for Geriatric Patients in Tehran, Iran

• DOI: 10.18502/ijph.v48i6.2924
• Publication Date: 2020-06-06T11:30:46Z
• Authors: Morvarid ZARIF-YE...; Mona KARGAR; Arash RASHIDIAN; Aarefeh JAFARZADE...; Kheirollah GHOLAMI
• Keywords: Salary; Demographics; Prescription costs

Considering the importance of high out-of-pocket (OOP) payment (OOPP), as a marker health system performance, and affordability medications in elderly, this study was conducted to determine these issues.In cross-sectional study, prescriptions patients aged 65 yr or older from 5 university-affiliated pharmacies Tehran, Iran were evaluated Jan Mar 2014. Prescriptions selected four insurance organizations. We used data regarding patients' demographics prescribers well sales for OOP. Affordability calculated by considering daily salary an unskilled worker.Totally, 1467 analyzed. Mean age 73.89(6.66) yr. (SE) reimbursable OOPP 203820 (10831) 230252 (10634) IRR (Iranian Rials) respectively (equivalent 81.6 (4.33) 92.17 US$ respectively). Subspecialists imposed higher expenditures Patients referred ophthalmologists paid less Nearly 50% total prescription costs The mean averagely equal 1.41(0.065) salary. These unaffordable 36.2% patients.The than goal 30% outpatients Iran. More one-third elderly could not afford their single prescription. Due consequences unaffordability medications, corrective actions are needed organizations system.