Published in The Lancet Global Health, the study by Lachlan Oldfield, Jonathan Penm, Ardalan Mirzaei, and Rebekah Moles examines the prices, availability, and affordability of essential medicines in 54 low- and middle-income countries. Using a secondary analysis based on the WHO–HAI methodology, the research highlights critical disparities in medicine accessibility between public and private sectors, emphasizing the economic burden on patients.
The findings reveal that no region met WHO’s recommended availability target, with prices often exceeding international reference levels. Patients in many countries must work several days’ wages to afford essential medicines, exacerbating health inequities. The authors call for targeted policy interventions to address these persistent challenges, advocating for global and national efforts to improve affordability and supply chain efficiency. By shedding light on the economic and structural barriers to medicine access, this study underscores the urgent need for coordinated action from governments, healthcare institutions, and international bodies.