Table 2.

Affordability of selected medicines in 2003, 2006 and 2009 in privately owned pharmacies

Medicine (duration and disease condition)	Year	Innovator	Most sold generic	Cheapest generic
Atenolol 50 mg tablet (monthly treatment of hypertension)	2003	3.09	0.07	0.07
	2006	1.48	0.05	0.04
	2009	1.22	0.03	0.03
Amoxicillin 250 mg capsule (1-week treatment of acute respiratory infection)	2003	1.46	0.63	0.58
	2006	0.63	0.10	0.10
	2009	0.58	0.10	0.09
Metformin 500 mg tablet (monthly treatment of diabetes)	2003	3.83	1.85	0.31
	2006	1.78	0.80	0.12
	2009	1.52	0.73	0.12
Carbamazepine 200 mg tablet (monthly treatment of epilepsy)	2003	17.10	1.32	1.32
	2006	5.16	0.54	0.54
	2009	6.78	0.52	0.52