What Factors Hindered the Access to Essential Anticancer Medicine in Public Hospitals for the Local Population in Hubei Province, China

• DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.734637
• Publication Date: 2021-09-21T06:37:24Z
• Authors: Chaoyi Chen; Zhanchun Feng; Yufeng Ding; Ziqi Yan; Jia Wang; Ruoxi Wang; Da Feng
• Keywords: Essential medicines; Tertiary care; Formulary

Background: Cancer poses a serious threat to one’s health, which caused significant economic burden on the family and society. Poor availability affordability resulted in some essential medicines failing meet basic health needs of this group patients. The objective study was evaluate availability, prices 32 anticancer Hubei Province, China. Methods: Data price related information capital five other cities Province were collected. A total 28 hospitals sampled, included 13 tertiary 15 secondary hospitals. We used standard methods developed by World Health Organization Action International compare differences drug price, between Results: Overall, medicine higher average originator brand (OBs) 13.70% (tertiary hospitals) VS 6.67% (secondary hospitals), lowest-priced generic (LPGs) 62.83% 42.92% hospitals). MPR value most sampled less than 1. In contrast, Cytarabine (17.15), Oxaliplatin (12.73) significantly international reference price. top three OBs’ expenses for 30-days treatment Irinotecan, Oxaliplatin, Bicalutamide. Further, their relative low, as costs one course using these much 20% minimum monthly income. Conclusion: Though “Zero Mark-Up” “Centralized procurement policy anti-tumor drugs” policies have been implemented China, issue yet be addressed. High low major barriers access medicines. Measures should taken provide sufficient, available affordable patients need.