Affordability Issues of Biotech Drugs in Low- and
Middle-Income Countries (LMICs)
Volume 3 - Issue 2
Abdul Kader Mohiuddin*
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- Department of Pharmacy, World University of Bangladesh, Bangladesh
*Corresponding author:
Abdul Kader Mohiuddin, Department of Pharmacy, World University of Bangladesh, Bangladesh
Received: July 24, 2019; Published: July 29, 2019
DOI: 10.32474/DDIPIJ.2018.03.000156
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Abstract
According to World Bank publication Disease Control Priorities: Improving Health and Reducing Poverty (3rd edition, 2017),
nearly 20% total health expenditure globally came from out-of-pocket payments in 2014. The same was nearly 40% total health
expenditure for low-income countries, 56% for lower-middle-income countries, and 30% for upper-middle-income countries
(WHO, 2016). One third of the world’s population lacks timely access to quality-assured medicines while estimates indicate that
at least 10% of medicine in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) are substandard or falsified, costing approximately US$
31 billion annually (Global Health, 2018). Surprisingly, 80% of global cardiovascular deaths occur in LMICs which is (partly) due
to the lack of access to healthcare including skilled human resources, equipped facilities and medicines (Global status report on
noncommunicable diseases, WHO, 2010). Price of drugs, vaccines, and diagnostics is a major burden in LMICs round the globe. Cost
of biotech drugs are even higher due to high cost incurred by the pharmaceutical companies for clinical trial. Biotech drugs have
completely changed the management of several diseases, including cancer and autoimmune diseases. Although essential but their
affordability is still a burning issue, especially in LMICs.
Keywords:LMICs; Out-of-pocket expenditure; Cancer treatments; Biotech drugs; Pharmaceutical patents; Biosimilars
Abbreviations:PIVI: Partnership for Influenza Vaccine Introduction; NITAGs: National Immunization Technical Advisory Groups;
OOP: Out-of-pocket; LMICs: Low-and Middle-Income Countries; RCT: Randomized Control Trial; HPV: Human Papillomavirus; GDP:
Gross Domestic Product; EML: Essential Medicine List; R&D: Research and Development; BRICS countries: Brazil, Russia, India,
China and South Africa; NCDs: Non-communicable diseases; CVDs: Cardiovascular Diseases
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