Background: Cardiovascular disease is both highly prevalent and expensive to treat. Many novel anticoagulants, fibrinolytics, and antiplatelet agents have been found to be effective in decreasing the morbidity and mortality associated with cardiovascular disease. In the Indian market, there is large variation in the prices of anticoagulants, fibrinolytics, and antiplatelet drugs marketed in India.
Aims and Objectives: Thus, a study was conducted to find out the variation in cost in the anticoagulants, fibrinolytics, and antiplatelet drugs available in India and to evaluate the difference in cost of various brands of the same anticoagulants, fibrinolytics, and antiplatelet drugs by calculating percentage variation in cost.
Materials and Methods: Cost of a particular drug in the same strength and dosage forms being manufactured by different companies was obtained from current index of medical specialties January to April 2017 edition. Minimum and maximum price of anticoagulants, fibrinolytics, and antiplatelet drugs manufactured by different pharmaceutical companies, and percentage cost variation was calculated.
Results: The cost of anticoagulants, fibrinolytics, and antiplatelet drugs by different companies was different. The highest percentage of cost variation was for tablet clopidogrel (75 mg) 394.61%, followed by tablet acenocoumarol (3 mg) 171.70%, injection enoxaparin sodium (60 mg/0.6 ml) 143.68%, tablet aspirin (75 mg) 51.55%, and lowest percentage cost variation was observed for injection streptokinase (1.5 MIU) 1.31%.
Conclusion: There is lot of variation in the prices of different brands of the same anticoagulants, fibrinolytics, and antiplatelet drugs currently available in Indian market. Despite the implementation of price control, brand price variations still exist widely for commonly used drugs. Reassessment of pricing policy and implementation of quality norms is required.
Key words: Anticoagulants; Fibrinolytics; Antiplatelet Drugs; Cost Analysis; Cost Variation
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