About PIE
The Price Information Exchange website contains procurement prices in the public sector for selected medicines that participating countries in the Western Pacific Region have shared voluntarily. The information was collected and processed by the WHO Western Pacific Regional Office in collaboration with the University of Philippines Manila - National Telehealth Center.
The website provides comparative information on procurement prices for selected medicines across the Western Pacific Region that countries can use in influencing actions to make medicines more affordable and in negotiating with suppliers.
The Western Pacific Region established this information exchange on medicine prices as recommended in The WHO Regional Strategy for Improving Access to Essential Medicines in the Western Pacific Region (2005-2010), which addresses these relevant facts:
- price is a significant barrier to access medicines
- there are major differences in medicines prices across countries in the region;
- exchanging price information among countries may help in-country negotiations with suppliers and influence policy and managerial decisions to take measures towards reducing prices, if they appear to be too high when compared to other countries in the Region.
Methodology
Countries in the Region were invited to participate in Price Information Exchange for selected medicines project by providing two types of information through:
- structured questionnaires about public procurement policies and basic information on the medicines supply system.
- information provided on elected medicines, specifically generic name; dosage and dosage form; brand or product name; manufacturer; supplier's name/country; quantity/volume procured; pack size; pack price; unit price; date of procurement. (Click here for the glossary)
The list of medicines was selected to allow cross-country comparisons. The list includes treatment for common acute and chronic conditions as well as paediatric formulations. These medicines are available in standard formulations and are widely used in almost all countries in the Region. In the future rounds of data collection, this list may be modified and expanded.(Click here to search medicines)
In the first round, 18 countries responded between May and August 2009. The information was collected and processed by WHO Western Pacific Regional Office in collaboration with University of Philippines Manila - National Telehealth Center.
Please note that all countries have different systems in place. Their public procurement of medicines is based on national policies and guidelines and can be centralized, decentralized or mixed. In some countries in the Region, procurement of medicines is entirely centralized (most Pacific island countries and areas) while in countries with highly decentralized administrative systems, medicines are procured at the regional/provincial or municipal level (most of inland countries). This factor should be considered when viewing prices, as countries with decentralized systems, their reported prices represent only procurement prices of one region/province or municipality, but not of the entire country.
Country profiles provide a brief description of the procurement systems of countries and are intended to complement information in comparative price charts. It is advisable to use price charts and country profiles together. (Click here to search country profiles).
How To Use PIE
- Prices shared by countries reflect the price that a country procurement authority pays. They may be inclusive or exclusive of the cost of shipping, handling, distribution, import fees, taxes etc. These country specific details can be found in country profiles.
- You can view medicine prices by browsing by the generic name of the medicine or participating country.
- When browsing by the generic name of the medicine, you can "mouse-over" or click on the bars to get more details on individual prices.
- All prices are presented in US$. For prices that were reported in other currencies, the exchange rate to the US$ as of the reporting date was used.
- Prices for which the information was incomplete were not included.
- All prices reflect the price per unit to allow cross-country comparison.
- These data represent the public procurement prices at the time when the information was collected.
- Some participating countries have decentralized systems of medicines procurement, therefore these data represent prices of one region/province but not of the entire country.
Terms of Use
The website is maintained by the University of the Philippines Manila - National Telehealth Center in collaboration with the WHO Western Pacific Regional Office.
Participating countries are responsible for ensuring accuracy of the data they submit. While PIE went through a thorough process of data-cleaning it is not liable for the consequences of erroneous data.
Published prices represent the public procurement price at a time when the information was collected. These prices should not be deemed the official price unless confirmed with the competent authorities in a given country.
Prices shared by countries reflect the price that a country procurement authority pays. They may be inclusive or exclusive of the cost of shipping, handling, distribution, import fees, taxes, etc. These country-specific details can be found in country profiles.
The published prices represent the public procurement price and do not represent the price that is charged to a consumer.
PIE is a pilot project, intending to collect information from countries on an annual basis. PIE does not guarantee that recent changes in prices in participating countries will be automatically changed in the website, unless requested by the participating country.
PIE is not responsible for the web links posted under "Resources".
By using PIE you agree to these terms of use without objection.
Any comments/queries may be sent to:
Essential Medicines and Health Technologies
Email: EMT@wpro.who.int
Address:
World Health Organization
Western Pacific Regional Office
P.O. Box 2932
1000 Manila
Philippines