Publication:

Analysis of price variation of some commonly used antibacterial agents

Background Antimicrobial resistance is a serious problem. Resistance may develop due to irrational use including poor patient compliance due to prescription of expensive drugs. In present study, the variation in the price of commonly used antibacterial was analysed.

Methods The price of commonly used antibacterial agents listed in recent issues of CIMS and MIMS was analysed in respect of number of brands available, price range (10 tablets or capsules) and 1 ampoule or vial (parenteral preparation) i.e. minimum, maximum and average price and price ratio (maximum/minimum). FDCs and formulation with only 1-2 brands were excluded.

Results The number of brands of oral antibacterial agents varied from 3 (faropenem 200 mg) to 90 (azithromycin 500 mg). The maximum price variation amongst different brands was 21.64 for levofloxacin 500 mg followed by 14.28 and 11.26 for linezolid 600 mg and moxifloxacin 400 mg respectively. For parenteral preparations, the number of brands varied from 2 (gentamicin 80 mg) to 57 (ceftriaxone 1 g). The maximum price variation was 5.05 for meropenem 1 g followed by 3.69 and 2.63 for meropenem 500 mg and ceftriaxone 1 g respectively.

Conclusions A very wide price variation was observed amongst different brands of both oral and parenteral formulations of antibacterial agents. Prescribing expensive brands may lead to resistance due to poor patient compliance.