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

Sefah, Israel A. and Ogunleye, Olayinka O. and Essah, Darius O. and Opanga, Sylvia and Rizvi, Nadia and Wamaitha, Annie and Guantai, Anastasia N. and Chikowe, Ibrahim and Khuluza, Felix and Kibuule, Dan and Nambahu, Lahya and Abubakar, Abdullahi R. and Sani, Ibrahim H. and Saleem, Zikria and Kalungia, Aubrey C. and Phuong, Thuy and Haque, Mainul and Islam, Salequl and Kumar, Santosh and Sneddon, Jacqueline and Wamboga, Joshua and Wale, Janney and Miljković, Nenad and Kurdi, Amanj and Martin, Antony and Godman, Brian (2021) 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. Frontiers in Pharmacology, 11. 588106. ISSN 1663-9812 (https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2020.588106)

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Abstract

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.

ORCID iDs

Sefah, Israel A., Ogunleye, Olayinka O., Essah, Darius O., Opanga, Sylvia, Rizvi, Nadia, Wamaitha, Annie, Guantai, Anastasia N., Chikowe, Ibrahim, Khuluza, Felix, Kibuule, Dan, Nambahu, Lahya, Abubakar, Abdullahi R., Sani, Ibrahim H., Saleem, Zikria, Kalungia, Aubrey C., Phuong, Thuy, Haque, Mainul, Islam, Salequl, Kumar, Santosh, Sneddon, Jacqueline, Wamboga, Joshua, Wale, Janney, Miljković, Nenad, Kurdi, Amanj ORCID logoORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5036-1988, Martin, Antony and Godman, Brian;
CORE (COnnecting REpositories)