A new approach to gathering pharmaceutical market data to support policy implementation and access to medicines: as demonstrated by malaria medicines in Zambia

• Published in: Malaria Journal
• Main Authors: Renia Coghlan, Peter Stephens, Bernice Mwale, Makomani Siyanga
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: BMC 2018
• Subjects: Medicines; Pharmaceuticals; Market dynamics; Market structure; Pharmaceutical market data; Private sector; Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine; RC955-962; Infectious and parasitic diseases; RC109-216; Arctic; Pillar
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-018-2594-9; https://doaj.org/article/02953c8cb87043b2a04c2233c5ee3d75

Abstract Background The steady supply of quality, affordable medicines is a pillar of a functioning health system. In addition to the public sector, the private, mission and not-for-profit sectors often serve a large part of the population in Africa. However, while there is generally systematic recording of public sector supply of medicines, detailed, systematic and reliable national market data including these non-public sectors are not commonly available in most countries in Africa. Understanding the total market is a missing part of the access puzzle: without this information, policy makers and health practitioners are not able to fully measure the impact of interventions, measure access to effective products, or fully evaluate the rational use of medicines. This article reports on a unique innovation which provides routine, national-level data on the total pharmaceuticals market, through a system which can be replicated elsewhere. It demonstrates how national-level market data contribute to the evidence base for policies on access to essential medicines, using the Zambian anti-malarial medicines market as a case study. Methods A new, routine national database on pharmaceutical market size and structure was established through a multi-partner collaboration. Information was extracted from import authorizations and allows for information on local manufacture. Data included value and volume of products as well as pack details, manufacturer and importer. The system was continually updated: data for this analysis were extracted for 6 years: 2009–2014 inclusive. Data were analysed using Microsoft Excel and validated against other sources including donor procurement data. Analysis included public and private sector markets. The policy relevance was demonstrated through analysis of four aspects of national policies on access and rational use of malaria medicines: (i) volume of product relative to disease burden; (ii) distribution by sector relative to treatment-seeking; (iii) consistency of products with respect to ...