Comparative Cost and Availabilty of Artemisinin-Based Combination Drugs in Benin City, Nigeria-a multicentre sampling
Article Sidebar
Main Article Content
Abstract
Due to the change in the policy governing the treatment of malaria in Nigeria, it became necessary to assess the cost and availability of Artemisinin-Based Combination Therapies (ACTs) in Benin City, Nigeria. This study was carried out using structured data forms that were systematically randomized in twenty-three pharmaceutical outlets on the streets and the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City, Nigeria. Seven types of Artemisinin-Based Combination Drugs were available in Benin City, Nigeria. These accounted for the forty-seven brands from different companies. There was a significant difference in cost per unit pack of treatment in the pharmaceutical shops and the tertiary institution (p<0.05). Artemether-Lumefantrine was the most expensive 1237.50±3.62 (Naira) and Artesunate-sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine 545.21±1.62 (Naira) as least expensive. Reports showed that there were reduced stocks of Chloroquine available. Others drugs such as Artemether, Artesunate, Artheether and Quinine were available as monotherapies for oral and parenteral use. Sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine and Pyrimethamine were available as prophylactic antimalarials. Other combinations such as Piperaquine-Dihydroartemisinin-Trimethoprim, Piperaquine-Dihydroartemisinin-Trimethoprim-primaquine, Pyronaridine-Artesunate, Naphthoquine-Dihydroartemisinin, Artesunate-Chloroquine, Chlorproguanil-Dapsone plus artesunate were unavailable. The report showed that some ACTs were expensive and available in Benin City. It is therefore suggested that concerted efforts should be made to reduce cost and enhance availability of the drugs.
Downloads
Article Details
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
References
Barnish G, Bates I, Iboro J (2004).Newer drug combinations for malaria. BMJ; 328:1511-1512.
D'Alessandro U,Talisuna A, Boelaert M (2005). Should artemisinin-based combination treatment be used in the home-based management of malaria? Trop Med Intl Health; 10 (1), 1–2.
Falade CO, Ogundele AO, Yusuf BO, Ademowo OG, Ladipo SM (2008). High efficacy of two artemisinin-based combinations (artemether/lumefantrine and artesunate plus amodiaquine) for acute uncomplicated malaria in Ibadan. Nigeria.Trop Med Int Health; 13:35-643.
Federal Ministry of Health Nigeria (2003).National Drug Policy on Malaria Treatment; 1-20.
Hien TT, Turner GD, Mai NT, Phu NH, Bethell D, Blakemore WF, Cavanagh JB, Dayan A, Medana I, Weller RO, Day NP, White NJ (2003). Neuropathological assessment of artemether-treated severe malaria. Lancet; 362: 295–296.
Kidane G, Morrow RH (2000). Teaching mothers to provide home treatment of malaria in Tigray, Ethiopia: a randomised trial. Lancet; 356: 550–555.
Mokuolu OA, Okoro EO, AyetoroSO, AdewaraAA (2007).Effect of Artemisinin-Based Treatment Policy on Consumption Pattern of Antimalarials.Am J Trop Med Hyg; 76 (1):7-11.
Olurishe TO, Maiha BB, Olurishe CO, Abdullahi H (2007). Short term Pre-Intervention Evaluation of Artemisinin Combination Therapy usage in a Tertiary Health Facility in Northern Nigeria. Nig J Pharm Sci; 6 (2): 93–98.
Salako L (2006). Chemotherapy of Malaria: A Historical Overview. Keynote Address at the 18th Annual General and Scientific Meeting of the West African Postgraduate College of Pharmacist, Abuja; 1-16.
White NJ and Olliaro PL (1996). Strategies for prevention of antimalarial drug resistance: rationale for combination therapy for malaria. Parasitol Today; 12: 399-401.
WHO (1990) Practical chemotherapy of malaria. Report of a WHO Scientific Group. Geneva, World Health Organization, (WHO Technical Report Series, No. 805).
WHO (1997).The use of essential drugs, Eighth report of the WHO Expert Committee.Geneva, World Health Organization, (WHO Technical Report Series, No. 882).
WHO (2001). Antimalarial Drug Combination therapy: Report of a WHO Technical Consultation. Geneva. World Health Organization, WHOCDSRMB2001.
WHO (2010). World Malaria Report .Geneva, WHO, 2010 (http://www.who.int/malaria/world_malaria_report2010/en/index.html.
Yeung S, Pongtavornpinyo W, Hastings IM, Mills AJ, White NJ (2004). Antimalarial Drug Resistance, Artemisinin-Based Combination Therapy, and the Contribution of Modeling to Elucidating Policy Choices. Am J Trop Med Hyg; 71: 179–186.