Cost variation analysis of commonly prescribed anti-diabetic drugs available in Indian market: a pharmaco-economic study

Authors

  • Kajal S. Gupta Department of Pharmacology, B. J. Government Medical College and Sassoon General Hospital, Pune, Maharashtra, India
  • Milind L. Pardeshi Department of Pharmacology, B. J. Government Medical College and Sassoon General Hospital, Pune, Maharashtra, India
  • Rajesh S. Hiray Department of Pharmacology, B. J. Government Medical College and Sassoon General Hospital, Pune, Maharashtra, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/2319-2003.ijbcp20214888

Keywords:

Anti-diabetic agents, Cost variation, Pharmaco-economics, Adherence, Brands

Abstract

Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic metabolic disorder requiring lifelong treatment. Due to rapid expansion of urbanization, unhealthy diet habits and sedentary lifestyle, the incidence of DM is increasing. The chronic nature of DM causes significant personal suffering and economic difficulty to families. The was aimed at investigating the cost difference in various brands of the same oral anti-diabetic drug.

Methods: The minimum and the maximum cost in rupees (INR) of a particular anti-diabetic drug manufactured by various pharmaceutical companies were obtained from current index of medical specialties (CIMS) website, Indian drug review (IDR) 2021 issue and National pharmaceutical pricing authority-pharma sahi daam. The cost ratio and percentage cost variation were noted for each brand.

Results: Amongst single drug therapy, metformin 500 mg sustained release showed highest price variation (3668%). Minimum cost variation was found with glipizide 2.5 mg (65%). Amongst the fixed dose combinations, highest cost variation was seen with glimepiride 2 mg+metformin 1000 mg (2703%) while minimum cost variation was found with repaglinide 1 mg+voglibose 0.3 mg (29%).

Conclusions: A noticeable cost variation was found in different brands of the same anti-diabetic drug. Prescribing a more expensive brand when a cheaper one is available can burden the patient financially and thus reduce patient compliance. In addition, the Government should also include more anti-diabetic drugs under the price control policy to ensure that affordable and efficacious medicines are available to all.

Background:  Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic metabolic disorder requiring lifelong treatment. Due to rapid expansion of urbanization, unhealthy diet habits and sedentary life style, the incidence of DM is increasing .The chronic nature of DM causes significant personal suffering and economic difficulty to families. The present study aims at investigating the cost difference in various brands of the same oral anti-diabetic drug.

Methods: The minimum and the maximum cost in rupees (INR) of a particular anti-diabetic drug manufactured by various brands were obtained from Current Index of Medical Specialties (CIMS) website, Indian Drug Review (IDR) 2021 issue and National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority – Pharma sahi daam. The cost ratio and percentage cost variation were noted for each brand.

Results: Amongst single drug therapy, Metformin 500mg Sustained Release showed highest price variation (3668%). Minimum cost variation was found with Glipizide 2.5mg (65%).

Amongst the fixed dose combinations, highest cost variation was seen with Glimepiride 2mg + Metformin 1000mg (2703%) while minimum cost variation was found with Repaglinide 1mg + Voglibose 0.3mg (29%).

 

Conclusions: A noticeable cost variation was found in different brands of the same anti-diabetic drug. Prescribing a more expensive brand when a cheaper one is available can burden the patient financially and thus reduce patient compliance. In addition, the Government should also include more anti-diabetic drugs under the price control policy to ensure that affordable and efficacious medicines are available to all.

 

Keywords: Anti-diabetic agents, Cost variation, Pharmaco-economics, Adherence, Brands

 


 

Background:  Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic metabolic disorder requiring lifelong treatment. Due to rapid expansion of urbanization, unhealthy diet habits and sedentary life style, the incidence of DM is increasing .The chronic nature of DM causes significant personal suffering and economic difficulty to families. The present study aims at investigating the cost difference in various brands of the same oral anti-diabetic drug.

Methods: The minimum and the maximum cost in rupees (INR) of a particular anti-diabetic drug manufactured by various brands were obtained from Current Index of Medical Specialties (CIMS) website, Indian Drug Review (IDR) 2021 issue and National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority – Pharma sahi daam. The cost ratio and percentage cost variation were noted for each brand.

Results: Amongst single drug therapy, Metformin 500mg Sustained Release showed highest price variation (3668%). Minimum cost variation was found with Glipizide 2.5mg (65%).

Amongst the fixed dose combinations, highest cost variation was seen with Glimepiride 2mg + Metformin 1000mg (2703%) while minimum cost variation was found with Repaglinide 1mg + Voglibose 0.3mg (29%).

 

Conclusions: A noticeable cost variation was found in different brands of the same anti-diabetic drug. Prescribing a more expensive brand when a cheaper one is available can burden the patient financially and thus reduce patient compliance. In addition, the Government should also include more anti-diabetic drugs under the price control policy to ensure that affordable and efficacious medicines are available to all.

 

Keywords: Anti-diabetic agents, Cost variation, Pharmaco-economics, Adherence, Brands

 


 

Background:  Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic metabolic disorder requiring lifelong treatment. Due to rapid expansion of urbanization, unhealthy diet habits and sedentary life style, the incidence of DM is increasing .The chronic nature of DM causes significant personal suffering and economic difficulty to families. The present study aims at investigating the cost difference in various brands of the same oral anti-diabetic drug.

Methods: The minimum and the maximum cost in rupees (INR) of a particular anti-diabetic drug manufactured by various brands were obtained from Current Index of Medical Specialties (CIMS) website, Indian Drug Review (IDR) 2021 issue and National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority – Pharma sahi daam. The cost ratio and percentage cost variation were noted for each brand.

Results: Amongst single drug therapy, Metformin 500mg Sustained Release showed highest price variation (3668%). Minimum cost variation was found with Glipizide 2.5mg (65%).

Amongst the fixed dose combinations, highest cost variation was seen with Glimepiride 2mg + Metformin 1000mg (2703%) while minimum cost variation was found with Repaglinide 1mg + Voglibose 0.3mg (29%).

 

Conclusions: A noticeable cost variation was found in different brands of the same anti-diabetic drug. Prescribing a more expensive brand when a cheaper one is available can burden the patient financially and thus reduce patient compliance. In addition, the Government should also include more anti-diabetic drugs under the price control policy to ensure that affordable and efficacious medicines are available to all.

 

Keywords: Anti-diabetic agents, Cost variation, Pharmaco-economics, Adherence, Brands

 


 

      

Author Biographies

Kajal S. Gupta, Department of Pharmacology, B. J. Government Medical College and Sassoon General Hospital, Pune, Maharashtra, India

Resident,Dept. of Pharmacology, B. J. Govt Medical College and SGH Pune, India       

Milind L. Pardeshi, Department of Pharmacology, B. J. Government Medical College and Sassoon General Hospital, Pune, Maharashtra, India

Associate Professor, Dept. of Pharmacology, B. J. Govt Medical College and SGH Pune, India     

Rajesh S. Hiray, Department of Pharmacology, B. J. Government Medical College and Sassoon General Hospital, Pune, Maharashtra, India

 Professor and Head, Dept. of Pharmacology, B. J. Govt Medical College and SGH Pune, India

    

References

Kruger D, Marcus AO. Psychological motivation and patient education: a role for continuous glucose monitoring. Diabetes Technol Ther. 2000;2:93.

Tripathi BR, Srivastava AK. Diabetes mellitus: Complications and therapeutics. Med Sci Monit. 2006;12(7):130-47.

Saeedi P, Petersohn I, Salpea P, Malanda B, Karuranga S, Unwin N, et al. Global and regional diabetes prevalence estimates for 2019 and projections for 2030 and 2045: Results from the International Diabetes Federation Diabetes Atlas, 9th edition. Diabetes Res Clin Prac. 2019;1:107843.

Atre S. Addressing policy needs for prevention and control of type 2 diabetes in India. Perspect Public Health. 2015;135(5):257-63.

Joshi SR, Parikh RM. India-diabetes capital of the world: now heading towards hypertension. J Assoc Physicians India. 2007;55:323-4.

Piette JD, Heisler M, Wagner TH. Cost-related medication underuse: do patients with chronic illnesses tell their doctors? Arch Intern Med. 2004;164(16):1749-55.

Thomas M. Rational drug use and essential drug concept. In: Parthasarthi G, Nyfort-Hasen K, eds. A Textbook of Clinical Pharmacy Practice. 1st ed. Hyderabad: Orient Longman; 2004: 72-3.

Allan GM, Lexchin J, Wiebe N. Physician awareness of drug cost: a systematic review. PLoS Med. 2007;4(9):283.

Cox ER, Jernigan C, Coons SJ, Draugalis JL. Medicare beneficiaries’ management of capped prescription benefits. Med Care. 2001;39(3):296-301.

Goldman DP, Joyce GF, Escarce JJ, Pace JE, Solomon MD, Laouri M, et al. Pharmacy benefits and the use of drugs by the chronically ill. JAMA. 2004;291(19):2344-50.

Jadhav NB, Bhosale MS, Adhav CV. Cost analysis of study of oral antidiabetic drugs available in Indian market. Int J Med Res Health Sci. 2013;2:63-9.

American Diabetes Association. Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes. Am Diabetes Association Diabet Care. 2014;37(1):14-80.

Khan GH, Aqil M, Pillai KK, Ahmad MA, Kapur P, Ain MA, et al. Therapeutic adherence: A prospective drug utilization study of oral hypoglycemic in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Asian Pac J Trop Dis. 2014;4(1):347-52.

Dharani D, Rajesh B, Shashirekha CH. Cost analysis study of commonly used oral hypoglycaemic agents available in Indiaa pharmacoeconomic study. Indian J Pharm Pharmacol. 2017;4;22-6.

Mehani R, Sharma P. Cost variation analysis of oral anti-diabetic drugs. Int J Basic Clin Pharmacol. 2018;7(9):1709-14.

Das SC, Mandal M, Mandal SC. A critical study on availability and price variation between different brands: Impact on access to medicines. Indian J Pharm Sci. 2007;69(1):160-3.

Rational use of drug. World Health Organization. [Last cited on 2012 Jan 02]. Available from: http://www.whoindia.org/LinkFiles/GPP_Rational_Use_of_Medicines.pdf .

Baru M, Acharya A, Acharya S, Kumar AS, Nagraj K. Inequities in access to health services in india: caste, class and region. Econ Polit Wkly. 2010;45:49-58.

Downloads

Published

2021-12-23

How to Cite

Gupta, K. S., Pardeshi, M. L., & Hiray, R. S. (2021). Cost variation analysis of commonly prescribed anti-diabetic drugs available in Indian market: a pharmaco-economic study. International Journal of Basic & Clinical Pharmacology, 11(1), 47–51. https://doi.org/10.18203/2319-2003.ijbcp20214888

Issue

Section

Original Research Articles