India has time-tested and proven capacity to manufacture HIV diagnostics, medicines: Expert
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The Hindu
a day ago
- The Hindu
Study finds people in poorer nations might be paying more for same essential drugs, compared to rich countries
An analysis of prices of about 550 medicines across 72 countries in 2022 has found that people in low- and middle-income nations could be paying more compared to wealthier ones for the same essential drugs, thereby placing a disproportionate cost burden on patients in poorer nations. Researchers from the US' Brown University and London School of Economics and Political Science (UK) said that 'nominal price' or the price stated on a medicine was higher in richer countries. However, upon accounting for purchasing power in the local currency, actual prices were found to be higher in poorer countries. They estimated that the typical number of doses of essential medicines consumed per person in 2022 was highest in Europe (634) and lowest in Southeast Asia (143). The results, published in The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) Health Forum, indicate that poorer countries face a higher burden of medicine costs, the authors said. For example, they added, while prices in India were low in nominal terms (fourth lowest of the 72 markets analysed), the prices were toward the middle of the range after purchasing power was taken into account (29th of 72 markets). They also noted that while nominal prices were the lowest in Pakistan, actual prices were closer to those in Germany upon accounting for purchasing power. Drug prices were also found to vary between countries by disease that the drug is used for treating. For most countries, the highest-priced drugs tended to be those used for treating mental and behavioural disorders and cardiovascular conditions, while the lowest-priced products were those to treat hepatitis B and C, the authors said. The team further looked at eight essential medicines, used for treating major causes of death and disability the world over, including the antibiotic 'amoxicillin' (used to treat community-acquired pneumonia), escitalopram (depression) and ibuprofen (pain). Affordability for the drugs was assessed based on number of days' minimum wages required for purchasing the drugs. People in India would need to work the most number of days at minimum wage -- about 10 days -- to pay for a monthly regimen of tenofovir disoproxil (used for treating Hepatitis B and HIV/AIDS) out of pocket, the team said. Affordability was found to be typically highest in Europe and the Western Pacific, and lowest in Africa and southeast Asia. "Our results show that while drugs may have a lower nominal price in low- and middle-income countries, they may still be less affordable when considering the relative purchasing power of local currencies," the authors wrote. "This indicates that some poorer countries face a higher burden of medication costs," they added.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Time of India
Cong: Tripura's healthcare ‘collapsed' under BJP
Agartala: Criticising the BJP-led govt in Tripura, the opposition Congress alleged the state's healthcare system has 'completely collapsed' even as chief minister Manik Saha is himself a doctor. Congress spokesperson Prabir Chakraborty on Saturday alleged that instead of delivering quality healthcare, the state has witnessed corruption and medical negligence, leading to deaths. Reports from both govt and independent agencies have 'punctured' the much-publicised claim of a 'health revolution', he claimed. According to a recent report by the Union ministry of health and family welfare, Tripura ranked first among northeastern states in malaria and chikungunya cases in 2024-25, despite having only 44 lakh population as compared to Assam's over three crore, Chakraborty said. In 2023, the state recorded 22,412 malaria cases, nearly half of the northeast's total, while chikungunya cases rose from 1,557 in 2023 to 2,452 in Dec 2024, he said. Chakraborty said the report further revealed a disturbing rise in HIV cases. PTI Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.
The Hindu
3 days ago
- The Hindu
Tripura's heath-care system 'completely collapsed' under BJP government, alleges Congress
Criticising the Bharatiya Janata Party-led (BJP) government in Tripura, the Opposition Congress alleged the State's health-care system has "completely collapsed" even as Chief Minister Manik Saha is himself a doctor. Congress spokesperson Prabir Chakraborty on Saturday (August 17, 2025) alleged that instead of delivering quality health care, the State has witnessed corruption and medical negligence, leading to deaths. Major attack on Independence Day thwarted in Tripura as police arrest 2 with explosives 'Reports from both government and independent agencies have 'punctured' the much-publicised claim of a health revolution,' he claimed. 'According to a recent report by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Tripura ranked first among northeastern States in malaria and chikungunya cases in 2024-25, despite having only 44 lakh population as compared to Assam's over three crore,' Mr. Chakraborty said. Tripura CM claims incumbent BJP-led coalition government provided nearly 20,000 regular jobs 'In 2023 alone, the State recorded 22,412 malaria cases, nearly half of the Northeast's total, while chikungunya cases rose from 1,557 in 2023 to 2,452 in December 2024,' he said. Mr. Chakraborty said the report further revealed a disturbing rise in HIV cases. Between January and November 2024, 1,237 people were found to be positive out of 12,660 people tested. Alleging that corruption has been rampant in medical recruitments, he claimed that candidates scoring as low as 14-15 marks out of 100 were appointed as medical officers by the government. "The State Government is more interested in creating flashy showcases than real reforms," Mr. Chakraborty alleged, urging the Chief Minister to take concrete measures to strengthen the health-care system.
