TY - JOUR
T1 - Rapid Assessment of the Potential Paucity and Price Increases for Suggested Medicines and Protection Equipment for COVID-19 Across Developing Countries With a Particular Focus on Africa and the Implications
AU - Sefah, Israel Abebrese
AU - Ogunleye, Olayinka O.
AU - Essah, Darius Obeng
AU - Opanga, Sylvia A.
AU - Butt, Nadia
AU - Wamaitha, Annie
AU - Guantai, Anastasia Nkatha
AU - Chikowe, Ibrahim
AU - Khuluza, Felix
AU - Kibuule, Dan
AU - Nambahu, Lahya
AU - Abubakar, Abdullahi Rabiu
AU - Sani, Ibrahim Haruna
AU - Saleem, Zikria
AU - Kalungia, Aubrey C.
AU - Thi Phuong, Thuy Nguyen
AU - Haque, Mainul
AU - Islam, Salequl
AU - Kumar, Santosh
AU - Sneddon, Jacqueline
AU - Wamboga, Joshua
AU - Wale, Janney
AU - Miljković, Nenad
AU - Kurdi, Amanj
AU - Martin, Antony P.
AU - Godman, Brian
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© Copyright © 2021 Sefah, Ogunleye, Essah, Opanga, Butt, Wamaitha, Guantai, Chikowe, Khuluza, Kibuule, Nambahu, Abubakar, Sani, Saleem, Kalungia, Thi Phuong, Haque, Islam, Kumar, Sneddon, Wamboga, Wale, Miljkovi´c, Kurdi, Martin and Godman.
PY - 2021/1/14
Y1 - 2021/1/14
N2 - Background: Countries across Africa and Asia have introduced a variety of measures to prevent and treat COVID-19 with medicines and personal protective equipment (PPE). However, there has been considerable controversy surrounding some treatments including hydroxychloroquine where the initial hype and misinformation led to shortages, price rises and suicides. Price rises and shortages were also seen for PPE. Such activities can have catastrophic consequences especially in countries with high co-payment levels. Consequently, there is a need to investigate this further. Objective: Assess changes in utilisation, prices, and shortages of pertinent medicines and PPE among African and Asian countries since the start of pandemic. Our approach: Data gathering among community pharmacists to assess changes in patterns from the beginning of March until principally the end of May 2020. In addition, suggestions on ways to reduce misinformation. Results: One hundred and thirty one pharmacists took part building on the earlier studies across Asia. There were increases in the utilisation of principally antimalarials (hydroxychloroquine) and antibiotics (azithromycin) especially in Nigeria and Ghana. There were limited changes in Namibia and Vietnam reflecting current initiatives to reduce inappropriate prescribing and dispensing of antimicrobials. Encouragingly, there was increased use of vitamins/immune boosters and PPE across the countries where documented. In addition, generally limited change in the utilisation of herbal medicines. However, shortages have resulted in appreciable price increases in some countries although moderated in others through government initiatives. Suggestions in Namibia going forward included better planning and educating patients. Conclusion: Encouraging to see increases in the utilisation of vitamins/immune boosters and PPE. However, concerns with increased utilisation of antimicrobials needs addressing alongside misinformation, unintended consequences from the pandemic and any appreciable price rises. Community pharmacists and patient organisations can play key roles in providing evidence-based advice, helping moderate prices through improved stock management, and helping address unintended consequences of the pandemic.
AB - Background: Countries across Africa and Asia have introduced a variety of measures to prevent and treat COVID-19 with medicines and personal protective equipment (PPE). However, there has been considerable controversy surrounding some treatments including hydroxychloroquine where the initial hype and misinformation led to shortages, price rises and suicides. Price rises and shortages were also seen for PPE. Such activities can have catastrophic consequences especially in countries with high co-payment levels. Consequently, there is a need to investigate this further. Objective: Assess changes in utilisation, prices, and shortages of pertinent medicines and PPE among African and Asian countries since the start of pandemic. Our approach: Data gathering among community pharmacists to assess changes in patterns from the beginning of March until principally the end of May 2020. In addition, suggestions on ways to reduce misinformation. Results: One hundred and thirty one pharmacists took part building on the earlier studies across Asia. There were increases in the utilisation of principally antimalarials (hydroxychloroquine) and antibiotics (azithromycin) especially in Nigeria and Ghana. There were limited changes in Namibia and Vietnam reflecting current initiatives to reduce inappropriate prescribing and dispensing of antimicrobials. Encouragingly, there was increased use of vitamins/immune boosters and PPE across the countries where documented. In addition, generally limited change in the utilisation of herbal medicines. However, shortages have resulted in appreciable price increases in some countries although moderated in others through government initiatives. Suggestions in Namibia going forward included better planning and educating patients. Conclusion: Encouraging to see increases in the utilisation of vitamins/immune boosters and PPE. However, concerns with increased utilisation of antimicrobials needs addressing alongside misinformation, unintended consequences from the pandemic and any appreciable price rises. Community pharmacists and patient organisations can play key roles in providing evidence-based advice, helping moderate prices through improved stock management, and helping address unintended consequences of the pandemic.
KW - Africa
KW - Asia
KW - COVID-19
KW - community pharmacists
KW - medicines
KW - price rises
KW - protective equipment
KW - shortages
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85100123750&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3389/fphar.2020.588106
DO - 10.3389/fphar.2020.588106
M3 - Article
C2 - 33628173
AN - SCOPUS:85100123750
SN - 1663-9812
VL - 11
JO - Frontiers in Pharmacology
JF - Frontiers in Pharmacology
M1 - 588106
ER -