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Measuring the affordability of medicines: Importance and challenges

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  • Niëns, L.M.
  • Brouwer, W.B.F.

Abstract

The issue of affordability of health care services remains high on the (health) policy agenda. Determining whether health care services are affordable is complex, however, as the concept ‘affordability’ is inherently normative. With a focus on measuring affordability in low- and middle-income countries, we discuss different methods used to operationalize this concept. Using the example of medicine purchases in Indonesia, we show the choice of method and threshold to have a significant impact on outcomes. We argue it is important to further standardize methods and appropriate threshold use in applied research to increase comparability of results and to facilitate sound assessments of affordability.

Suggested Citation

  • Niëns, L.M. & Brouwer, W.B.F., 2013. "Measuring the affordability of medicines: Importance and challenges," Health Policy, Elsevier, vol. 112(1), pages 45-52.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:hepoli:v:112:y:2013:i:1:p:45-52
    DOI: 10.1016/j.healthpol.2013.05.018
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    1. Surachat Ngorsuraches & Kanokkan Chaiyakan, 2015. "Equitable Prices of Single-Source Drugs in Thailand," Applied Health Economics and Health Policy, Springer, vol. 13(4), pages 389-397, August.
    2. Leila Zarei & Iman Karimzadeh & Najmeh Moradi & Payam Peymani & Sara Asadi & Zaheer-Ud-Din Babar, 2020. "Affordability Assessment from a Static to Dynamic Concept: A Scenario-Based Assessment of Cardiovascular Medicines," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(5), pages 1-19, March.
    3. Mohammadreza Amiresmaili & Zahra Emrani, 2019. "Investigating the exposure of Iranian households to catastrophic health expenditure due to the need to purchase medicines," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 14(4), pages 1-11, April.

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