Pricing appraisal of anti-cancer drugs in the South East Asian, Western Pacific and East Mediterranean Region

• Published in: BMC cancer 2017-12, Vol.17 (1), p.903-903, Article 903
• Main Authors: Salmasi, Shahrzad, Lee, Kah Seng, Ming, Long Chiau, Neoh, Chin Fen, Elrggal, Mahmoud E, Babar, Zaheer-Ud- Din, Khan, Tahir Mehmood, Hadi, Muhammad Abdul
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Anti-cancer drugs; Antimitotic agents; Antineoplastic agents; Antineoplastic Agents - economics; Antineoplastic Agents - therapeutic use; Asia, Southeastern - epidemiology; Cancer; Cross-Sectional Studies; Developing Countries; Drug Costs - standards; Eastern Mediterranean; Health aspects; Humans; Mediterranean Region - epidemiology; Mortality; Neoplasms - drug therapy; Neoplasms - economics; Neoplasms - epidemiology; Oncology, Experimental; Pacific Islands - epidemiology; Pricing; South-East Asia; Surveys; Western Pacific
• ISSN: 1471-2407; 1471-2407
• DOI: 10.1186/s12885-017-3888-y

Globally, cancer is one of the leading causes of mortality. High treatment cost, partly owing to higher prices of anti-cancer drugs, presents a significant burden on patients and healthcare systems. The aim of the present study was to survey and compare retail prices of anti-cancer drugs between high, middle and low income countries in the South-East Asia, Western Pacific and Eastern Mediterranean regions. Cross-sectional survey design was used for the present study. Pricing data from ten counties including one from South-East Asia, two from Western Pacific and seven from Eastern Mediterranean regions were used in this study. Purchasing power parity (PPP)-adjusted mean unit prices for 26 anti-cancer drug presentations (similar pharmaceutical form, strength, and pack size) were used to compare prices of anti-cancer drugs across three regions. A structured form was used to extract relevant data. Data were entered and analysed using Microsoft Excel®. Overall, Taiwan had the lowest mean unit prices while Oman had the highest prices. Six (23.1%) and nine (34.6%) drug presentations had a mean unit price below US$100 and between US$100 and US$500 respectively. Eight drug presentations (30.7%) had a mean unit price of more than US$1000 including cabazitaxel with a mean unit price of $17,304.9/vial. There was a direct relationship between income category of the countries and their mean unit price; low-income countries had lower mean unit prices. The average PPP-adjusted unit prices for countries based on their income level were as follows: low middle-income countries (LMICs): US$814.07; high middle income countries (HMICs): US$1150.63; and high income countries (HICs): US$1148.19. There is a great variation in pricing of anticancer drugs in selected countires and within their respective regions. These findings will allow policy makers to compare prices of anti-cancer agents with neighbouring countries and develop policies to ensure accessibility and affordability of anti-cancer drugs.