Survey of drugs sold in pharmacies in Afghanistan

To compare retail prices and manufacturers of drugs sold in pharmacies in the developing country Afghanistan.

Jalalabad, Afghanistan, and pharmacies located around the secondary referral centre and teaching hospital Public Health hospital.

Descriptive survey of 10 pharmacies, where hospital patients purchase medication. The pharmacies were interviewed about retail prices and manufacturers of paracetamol, chloroquine, metronidazole, ampicillin, and levamizole.

Paracetamol tablets were offered by eight different producers (seven in Pakistan, one in the United Kingdom). The price range per tablet was Afghani 15-120 (mean Afghani 59). The different manufacturers (six in Pakistan, two in the United Kingdom, one in Germany, one in India) offered paracetamol syrup with a price range per bottle between Afghani 800-3000 (mean Afghani 1544). Chloroquine tablets were offered by six different producers (one in Pakistan, one in China, one in France, one in Iran, one in India, one in Germany). The price range per tablet was Afghani 45-100 (mean Afghani 76). Three producers from Pakistan offered chloroquine ampoules and the price range was Afghani 250-1020 (mean Afghani 412). Chloroquine syrup was offered by 11 different producers (eight in Pakistan, one in Afghanistan, one in India, one in France). The price range was Afghani 500-2000 (mean Afghani 1226). Metronidazole tablets were offered by five different producers (two in Pakistan, one in France, two in India). The price range was Afghani 60-300 (mean Afghani 175). Metronidazole syrup was offered by four different producers (three in Pakistan, one in France). The price range was Afghani 1000-4500 (mean Afghani 2800). Ampicillin capsules were offered by five different producers (one in Pakistan, one in the United Kingdom, one in India, two in Iran). The price range was Afghani 140-650 (mean Afghani 238). Ampicillin ampoules were offered by five different producers (one in China, one in Germany, one in India, one in France, one in Yugoslavia). The price range was Afghani 600-1700 (mean Afghani 1207). Ampicillin syrup was offered by eight different producers (six in Pakistan, one in China, one in the United Kingdom). The price range was Afghani 900-3500 (mean Afghani 2450). Levamizole tablets were offered by two producers from Pakistan, and three from India. The price range was Afghani 30-500 (mean Afghani 110).

Up to 11 producers (chloroquine syrup) offered the same drug with price differences up to 1600% (levamizole).In developing countries with scarce resources for health care and no free health care, regulation and control of drugs could improve efficient use of resources and in hospital medicine patients should obtain all mediation from one supervised hospital pharmacy.