Abstract

ABSTRACT
Medicines represent a substantial proportion of the economic costs for treating chronic diseases. In low and middle income countries (LMIC), 50–90% of the population have to pay for medicines themselves. Inappropriate access and availability of essential medicines contribute substantially to out-of-budget expense. A significant population of developing countries (upto 90%) purchase medicines through out-of-pocket payments. This research study was conducted to investigate the comparative availability of selected essential medicines for selected chronic diseases in Bhiwani district. Standardized methodology of World Health Organization and Health Action International was employed. The research study was conducted on retail pharmacy outlets of Bhiwani District i.e. residential areas of Bhiwani city and five administrative areas of Bhiwani district. Overall percent availability of the most of the surveyed medicines used in the treatment of chronic diseases was found to be less than 50%. Dissemination of well documented information on availability medicine consumers in all residential areas may enhance consumer demand for lower price medicine and thus may serve to enhance the availability of demanded medicine (lowest priced) in all the areas of Bhiwani district.

Key words: Accessibility, Availability, Chronic diseases, Essential medicines, Retail pharmacy outlets