Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is the fourth leading cause of death globally. Moreover, 90% of COPD-related deaths typically occur in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), including India.

In India, medicine costs currently represent a major proportion of the total healthcare costs (approximately 38%). Consequently, there is a need to address this, especially if most medicine costs are out-of-pocket.

A clinical pharmacist-led intervention reduced the costs of medicines for patients with COPD by up to 30.6%, while improving medication adherence and health-related quality of life, with savings marginally lower once the costs of pharmacist’s time were included

This intervention is feasible and pragmatic and could potentially be implemented across India and in other LMICs given concerns regarding the paucity of physicians, availability of pharmacists, and cost savings, as India and other LMICs move towards universal access.