Table 3.
Affordability: Number of days’ wages of the lowest paid government worker needed to purchase standard medications
| Disease condition and ‘standard’ treatment | Day’s wages to pay for treatment | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Condition | Drug name, strength, dosage form | Treatment schedule | LPM-Public sector | LPM-Private sector |
| Respiratory Tract Infections, UTIs | Amoxicllin Suspension 125 mg/5 ml | Child up to 10 years: 125 mg(=5 ml)x3x7 days = 105 ml | 0.38 | 0.65 |
| Respiratory Tract Infections, Otitis Media | Amoxicillin Clavulanic Acid Suspension 125–31.25 mg/5 ml | Child 1–6 years: 125 mg(=5 ml)x3x7 days = 105 ml | 0.46 | 1.03 |
| Respiratory Tract Infections, Otitis Media | Amoxicillin Clavulanic Acid Suspension 250–62.5 mg/5 ml | Child over 10 years: 250 mg(=5 ml)x3x7 days = 105 ml | 0.85 | 1.00 |
| Seizure Disorder | Carbamazepine tablet, 100 mg | Maintenance treatment: 5 mg/kg*18 kg*3*30 days = 8100 mg or 40.5 tablets for 1 month | 0.34 | 0.54 |
| Infections due to Susceptible Organisms | Ceftriaxone 500 mg vial | Child under 50 kg: Maximum 1 g dailyx7 days = 7 g or 14 vials | 0.11 | 0.15 |
| Infections due to Susceptible Organisms | Sulfamethoxazole+Trimethoprim (400 mg + 80 mg) | 18kgx4 mg/kg = 72 mg TMPx2x7days = 1008 mg.126 ml or 12.6 tablets total for 7 days | 0.09 | 0.30 |
| Dehydration | Oral Rehydration Solution, powder to make 500 ml | Moderate Dehydration; 75 ml/kgx18kg = 1350 ml | 0.06 | 0.12 |
| Pneumonia | Amoxicllin Suspension 125 mg/5 ml | Child up to 10 years: 125 mg(=5 ml)x3x7 days = 105 ml | 0.38 | 0.65 |
| Pain/inflammation | Paracetamol Suspension 24 mg/ml | 5 year old child: 15 mg/kgx18kgx4x3 = 3240 mg = (130 mL) | 0.28 | 0.28 |
| Pain/inflammation | Ibuprofen suspension | 5 year old child: 15 mg/kgx18kgx4x3 = 3240 mg = (130 mL) | 0.67 | 0.79 |
| Asthma | Salbutamol inhaler 100 mcg/dose | 1 inhaler 200 doses | 0.38 | 0.65 |
| Xerophthalmia | Vitamin A 50,000 units | Child 1–12 years: 200,000 units × 3 doses | 0.12 | 0.18 |
*LPM- Lowest Price Medicine