TY - JOUR
T1 - Availability, price and affordability of anti-tuberculosis drugs in Europe: a TBNET survey
T2 - A TBNET survey
AU - Günther, Gunar
AU - Gomez, Gabriela B.
AU - Lange, Christoph
AU - Rupert, Stephan
AU - van Leth, Frank
AU - AUTHOR GROUP
AU - Andrejak, Claire
AU - Pieridou-Bagatzouni, Despo
AU - Anderson, Aase Bengard
AU - Bojovic, Olivera
AU - Bothamley, Graham
AU - Bruchfeld, Judith
AU - Codecasa, Luigi R.
AU - Danilovits, Manfred
AU - Davidaviciene, Edita
AU - Dalemo, Paulina
AU - Dimopoulos, Giorgos
AU - Duarte, Raquel
AU - Hafizi, Hasan
AU - Horvath, Ildiko
AU - Eyuboglu, Fusun
AU - Ibraim, Elmira
AU - Jankovic, Mateja
AU - Kan, Boris
AU - Kopecka, Emilia
AU - Kruczak, Katarzyna
AU - Kutsyna, Galyna
AU - de lange, Wiel
AU - Leimane, Vaira
AU - Mack, Ulrich
AU - Manzano, Juan Ruiz
AU - Markova, Roumania
AU - McDonald, Colm
AU - McLaughlin, Anne-Marie
AU - Mulliqi, Gjyle
AU - Muylle, Inge
AU - Pesut, Dragica
AU - Polcova, Veronika
AU - Rumetshofer, Rudolf
AU - Rusu, Doina
AU - Skrahina, Alena
AU - Spiric, Nicolina
AU - Solovic, Ivan
AU - Svetina-Sorli, Petra
AU - Vasakova, Martina
AU - Vasankari, Tuula
AU - Viiklepp, Piret
AU - Wirz, Gil
AU - Zakoska, Maja
AU - Zellweger, Jean-Pierre
PY - 2015/4/1
Y1 - 2015/4/1
N2 - Data on availability and cost of anti-tuberculosis (TB) drugs in relation to affordability at national level are scarce. We performed a cross-sectional study on availability and cost of anti-TB drugs at major TB-reference centres in 37 European countries. Costs of standardised treatment regimens used for pan-sensitive TB, multidrug-resistant (MDR) TB, pre-extensively drug-resistant (XDR) TB, and XDR-TB were compared using a purchasing power analysis. Affordability was evaluated in relation to monthly national gross domestic products per capita (GDP). At least one second-line injectable and either moxifloxacin or levofloxacin were available in all countries. Linezolid and clofazimine were available in 79% and 46% of the countries, respectively. Drug cost for XDR-TB was three-times more expensive than those for MDR-TB. The average price of treatment for pan-sensitive TB represented a maximum of 8.5% of the monthly GDP across countries, while for standard MDR-TB treatment this was <30% in only six countries and more than 100% in four countries. Treatment of XDR-TB represented more than 100% of a month's GDP in all countries where the regimen was available. High cost and limited availability of drugs for treatment of drug-resistant TB, particularly beyond resistance to first-line drugs, are a major impediment to successful TB control in Europe
AB - Data on availability and cost of anti-tuberculosis (TB) drugs in relation to affordability at national level are scarce. We performed a cross-sectional study on availability and cost of anti-TB drugs at major TB-reference centres in 37 European countries. Costs of standardised treatment regimens used for pan-sensitive TB, multidrug-resistant (MDR) TB, pre-extensively drug-resistant (XDR) TB, and XDR-TB were compared using a purchasing power analysis. Affordability was evaluated in relation to monthly national gross domestic products per capita (GDP). At least one second-line injectable and either moxifloxacin or levofloxacin were available in all countries. Linezolid and clofazimine were available in 79% and 46% of the countries, respectively. Drug cost for XDR-TB was three-times more expensive than those for MDR-TB. The average price of treatment for pan-sensitive TB represented a maximum of 8.5% of the monthly GDP across countries, while for standard MDR-TB treatment this was <30% in only six countries and more than 100% in four countries. Treatment of XDR-TB represented more than 100% of a month's GDP in all countries where the regimen was available. High cost and limited availability of drugs for treatment of drug-resistant TB, particularly beyond resistance to first-line drugs, are a major impediment to successful TB control in Europe
U2 - https://doi.org/10.1183/09031936.00124614
DO - https://doi.org/10.1183/09031936.00124614
M3 - Article
C2 - 25395035
SN - 0903-1936
VL - 45
SP - 1081
EP - 1088
JO - European respiratory journal
JF - European respiratory journal
IS - 4
ER -