Availability and price changes of potential medicines and equipment for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19 among pharmacy and drug stores in Bangladesh; findings and implications

Authors

  • Mainul Haque Unit of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine and Defence Health, Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia (National Defence University of Malaysia), Kem Sungai Besi, 57000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
  • Salequl Islam Department of Microbiology, Jahangirnagar University, Savar, Dhaka-1342, Bangladesh
  • Samiul Iqbal Department of Orthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, BSMMU, Dhaka-1000, Bangladesh
  • Umme Laila Urmi Department of Microbiology, Jahangirnagar University, Savar, Dhaka-1342, Bangladesh
  • Zubair Mahmood Kamal Integrated Sleep Disorders Center (ISDC), McGuire VAMC / VCU Health, 513 Veterans Ave, Richmond, VA 23224, USA
  • Aminur Rahman Finance & Account Division, Grameen Euglena, Grameen Bank Complex, Mirpur - 2, Dhaka-1216, Bangladesh
  • Mustafa Kamal Al-Manar Hospital Ltd., Modern Hospital Cumilla Ltd, Dhaka, Bangladesh
  • Monami Haque Human Resource Department, Square Toiletries Limited. Rupayan Center, 11th Floor, 72 Mohakhali C/A, Dhaka-1212, Bangladesh
  • Iffat Jahan Department of Physiology, Eastern Medical College, Comilla, Bangladesh
  • Zakirul Islam Department of Pharmacology, Eastern Medical College, Comilla, Bangladesh
  • Mohammad Monir Hossain Department of Anatomy. Eastern Medical College, Comilla, Bangladesh
  • Munzur E Murshid WISH2Action Project, Handicap International, Chamrargola, Kurigram Sadar, Kurigram 5600, Bangladesh
  • Israel Sefah Ghana Health Service, Keta Municipal Hospital, Pharmacy Department, Keta-Dzelukope, Ghana, and University of Health and Allied Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Pharmacy Practice Department, Volta Region, Ghana
  • Amanj Kurdi Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow G4 0RE, United Kingdom and Department of Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Hawler Medical University, Erbil, Iraq
  • Brian Godman Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow G4 0RE, United Kingdom

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3329/bjms.v19i0.48106

Keywords:

Bangladesh, Community pharmacists, LMICs, price rises, self-purchasing, shortages

Abstract

Objective: There are concerns with increased prices and drug shortages for pertinent medicines and personal protective equipment (PPE) to prevent and treat COVID-19 enhanced by misinformation. Community pharmacists and drug stores play a significant role in disease management in Bangladesh due to high co-payments. Consequently, a need to review prices and availability in the pandemic.

Materials and Methods: Multiple approach involving a review and questionnaire among pharmacies and stores early March to end May 2020.

Results and Discussion: 170 pharmacies and drug stores took part, giving a response rate of 63.9%. Encouragingly, no change in utilization of antimalarial medicines in 51.2% of stores despite global endorsements. However, increased utilisation of antibiotics (70.6%), analgesics (97.6%), vitamins (90.6%) and PPE (over 95%). Encouragingly, increases in purchasing of PPE. No increase in prices among 50% of the stores for antimalarials, with a similar situation for antibiotics (65.3%), analgesics (54.7%), and vitamins (51.8%). However, price increases typically for PPE (over 90% of stores). Shortages also seen for medicines and PPE, again greater for PPE.

Conclusions: The pandemic has impacted on the supply and prices of medicines and PPE in Bangladesh. Key stakeholder groups can play a role addressing misinformation, with enhanced local production helping address future shortages and prices.

Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science Vol.19(0) 2020 p. S 36-S 50

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Published

2020-07-10

How to Cite

Haque, M., Islam, S., Iqbal, S., Urmi, U. L., Kamal, Z. M., Rahman, A., … Godman, B. (2020). Availability and price changes of potential medicines and equipment for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19 among pharmacy and drug stores in Bangladesh; findings and implications. Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science, 19, S 36-S 50. https://doi.org/10.3329/bjms.v19i0.48106

Issue

Vol 19: 'Special issue on Covid 19' 2020

Section

Original Articles

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