Rapid Assessment of the Potential Paucity and Price Increases for Suggested Medicines and Protection Equipment for COVID-19 Across Developing Countries With a Particular Focus on Africa and the Implications

Frontiers in Pharmacology

Abdullahi Rabiu Abubakar¹  Janney Wale²  Nenad Miljković³  Ibrahim Haruna Sani⁴  Zikria Saleem⁵  Amanj Kurdi⁷  Aubrey C. Kalungia⁸  Thuy Nguyen Thi Phuong^1,10  Antony P. Martin^1,11  Mainul Haque^1,12  Salequl Islam^1,13  Santosh Kumar^1,15  Brian Godman^1,17  Jacqueline Sneddon^1,18  Joshua Wamboga^1,19  Olayinka O. Ogunleye^2,20  Sylvia A. Opanga^2,21  Anastasia Nkatha Guantai^2,22  Lahya Nambahu^2,24  Dan Kibuule^2,24  Nadia Butt^2,25  Annie Wamaitha^2,25  Felix Khuluza^2,26  Ibrahim Chikowe^2,26  Darius Obeng Essah^2,27  Israel Abebrese Sefah^2,28 

[1] 0Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Bayero University, Kano, Nigeria;0Independent Consumer Advocate, Brunswick, VIC, Australia;1Institute of Orthopaedic Surgery “Banjica”, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia;1Unit of Pharmacology, College of Health Sciences, Yusuf Maitama Sule University, Kano, Nigeria;2Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan;2Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, United Kingdom;3Department of Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Hawler Medical University, Erbil, Iraq;3Department of Pharmacy, University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia;4Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Brownlow Hill, Liverpool, United Kingdom;4Pharmaceutical Administration and PharmacoEconomics, Hanoi University of Pharmacy, Hanoi, Vietnam;5QC Medica, York, United Kingdom;5Unit of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine and Defence Health, Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia (National Defence University of Malaysia), Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia;6Department of Microbiology, Jahangirnagar University, Dhaka, Bangladesh;6School of Pharmacy, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, Pretoria, South Africa;7Department of Periodontology and Implantology, Karnavati University, Gandhinagar, India;7School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang, Malaysia;8Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Karolinska Institute, Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge, Stockholm, Sweden;8Healthcare Improvement Scotland, Glasgow, United Kingdom;9Uganda Alliance of Patients’ Organizations (UAPO), Kampala, Uganda;Department of Medicine, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja, Nigeria;Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmacy Practice, School of Pharmacy, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya;Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacognosy, School of Pharmacy, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya;Department of Pharmacology, Therapeutics and Toxicology, Lagos State University College of Medicine, Ikeja, Nigeria;Department of Pharmacy Practice and Policy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Namibia, Windhoek, Namibia;Pharmaceutical Society of Kenya, Nairobi, Kenya;Pharmacy Department, College of Medicine, Blantyre, Malawi;Pharmacy Department, Keta Municipal Hospital, Ghana Health Service, Keta-Dzelukope, Ghana;Pharmacy Practice Department of Pharmacy Practice, School of Pharmacy, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ho, Ghana;

关键词: Africa;    Asia;    community pharmacists;    COVID-19;    medicines;    protective equipment;   

DOI  :  10.3389/fphar.2020.588106

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Background: Countries across Africa and Asia have introduced a variety of measures to prevent and treat COVID-19 with medicines and personal protective equipment (PPE). However, there has been considerable controversy surrounding some treatments including hydroxychloroquine where the initial hype and misinformation led to shortages, price rises and suicides. Price rises and shortages were also seen for PPE. Such activities can have catastrophic consequences especially in countries with high co-payment levels. Consequently, there is a need to investigate this further.Objective: Assess changes in utilisation, prices, and shortages of pertinent medicines and PPE among African and Asian countries since the start of pandemic.Our approach: Data gathering among community pharmacists to assess changes in patterns from the beginning of March until principally the end of May 2020. In addition, suggestions on ways to reduce misinformation.Results: One hundred and thirty one pharmacists took part building on the earlier studies across Asia. There were increases in the utilisation of principally antimalarials (hydroxychloroquine) and antibiotics (azithromycin) especially in Nigeria and Ghana. There were limited changes in Namibia and Vietnam reflecting current initiatives to reduce inappropriate prescribing and dispensing of antimicrobials. Encouragingly, there was increased use of vitamins/immune boosters and PPE across the countries where documented. In addition, generally limited change in the utilisation of herbal medicines. However, shortages have resulted in appreciable price increases in some countries although moderated in others through government initiatives. Suggestions in Namibia going forward included better planning and educating patients.Conclusion: Encouraging to see increases in the utilisation of vitamins/immune boosters and PPE. However, concerns with increased utilisation of antimicrobials needs addressing alongside misinformation, unintended consequences from the pandemic and any appreciable price rises. Community pharmacists and patient organisations can play key roles in providing evidence-based advice, helping moderate prices through improved stock management, and helping address unintended consequences of the pandemic.

【 授权许可】

Unknown