Foregoing medicines in the former Soviet Union: changes between 2001 and 2010

Area of Science:

• Health Economics
• Pharmaceutical Policy
• Public Health

Background:

• High out-of-pocket pharmaceutical expenses in former Soviet countries threaten financial equity and healthcare access.
• Understanding trends in medicine affordability is crucial for public health policy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the proportion of the population foregoing medicines in 2001 and 2010 across eight former Soviet countries.
• To analyze disparities in medicine access based on economic status and geographic location (urban/rural).

Main Methods:

• Analysis of nationally representative household survey data from Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, and Ukraine.
• Comparison of medicine non-adherence rates between 2001 and 2010.
• Subgroup analysis by economic status and urban/rural populations.

Main Results:

• A substantial percentage of the population reported foregoing medicines in 2010, ranging from 29.2% in Belarus to 72.9% in Georgia.
• Overall decline in people foregoing medicines from 2001 to 2010, with significant improvements in Moldova and Kyrgyzstan.
• Limited improvement in countries with higher Gross National Income (GNI) per capita, and wealthier, urban populations benefited more than poorer, rural households in some nations.

Conclusions:

• Pharmaceutical reforms, including price controls and expanded benefits, correlate with greater improvements in medicine access.
• Continued commitment to pharmaceutical reform is essential to prevent individuals from being unable to afford necessary medications.
• Addressing socioeconomic and geographic disparities in medicine access remains a critical public health challenge.