Article: Evaluating availability and price of essential medicines in Boston area (Massachusetts, USA) using WHO/HAI methodology
Two of the article’s authors, Abhishek Sharma and Lindsey Rorden, are BUSPH alumni. Author Richard Laing is a Professor in the Department of Global Health.
Abstract
Background:
Many patients even those with health insurance pay out-of-pocket for medicines. We investigated the availability and prices of essential medicines in the Boston area.
Methods:
Using the WHO/HAI methodology, availability and undiscounted price data for both originator brand (OB) and lowest price generic (LPG) equivalent versions of 25 essential medicines (14 prescription; 11 over-thecounter (OTC)) were obtained from 17 private pharmacies. The inclusion and prices of 26 essential medicines in seven pharmacy discount programs were also studied. The medicine prices were compared with international reference prices (IRPs).
Results:
In surveyed pharmacies, the OB medicines were less available as compared to the generics. The OB and LPG versions of OTC medicines were 21.33 and 11.53 times the IRP, respectively. The median prices of prescription medicines were higher, with OB and LPG versions at 158.14 and 38.03 times the IRP, respectively. In studied pharmacy discount programs, the price ratios of surveyed medicines varied from 4.4–13.9.
Conclusions:
While noting the WHO target that consumers should pay no more than four times the IRPs, medicine prices were considerably higher in the Boston area. The prices for medicines included in the pharmacy discount programs were closest to WHO’s target. Consumers should shop around, as medicine inclusion and prices vary across discount programs. In order for consumers to identify meaningful potential savings through comparison shopping, price transparency is needed.
Twitter Chat on Global Mental Health with Jen Beard
STARTS:12:00 pm on Thursday, April 7, 2016
ENDS:1:00 pm on Thursday, April 7, 2016
LOCATION:On Twitter @BUSPH (#globalmentalhealth)
URL:http://www.twitter.com/busph
CONTACT NAME:Meaghan Agnew
CONTACT EMAIL:meaghans@bu.edu
Join Professors Jen Beard and Carol Dolan for a Twitter chat on mental health around the globe, including low-resource countries. Submit your questions via Twitter using the hashtag #globalmentalhealth.
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Harvard SPH: Decision analysis and cost-effectiveness nanocourse: Register now!
The Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health Postdoctoral Association presents our first Nanocourse of 2016: Introduction to decision analysis and cost-effectiveness analysis for public health and clinical decision making. The course is free and everyone is welcome to attend!
This course is designed to provide an overview to the methods and applications of health decision science and cost-effectiveness analysis. During the first session attendees will be given an introduction to structuring and evaluating a decision problem. In the second session, attendees will learn the basic principles of conducting a cost-effectiveness analysis, including a hands-on lab in decision-analytic software (TreeAge™). Both sessions incorporate interesting and relevant examples of public health issues informed by decision science.
First Session: Tuesday, April 19, 2016, 1:30 PM - 4:30 PM
Location: TMEC Walter Amphitheater (HMS)
Second Session: Tuesday, April 26, 2016, 1:30 PM - 4:30 PM
Location: Armenise Amphitheater (HMS)
More information: hsph.me/decisionanalysis
Register here: http://goo.gl/forms/m8g3pGGMvi
Course Instructors:
Christian Suharlim, MD, MPH http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/christian-suharlim/
Stephen Sy SM, http://www.chds.hsph.harvard.edu/People/Stephen-Sy
Emily Burger, MPhil, PhD http://chds.hsph.harvard.edu/People/Research-Managers/Emily-A.-Burger
Curriculum Fellow:
Bradley Coleman, PhD
Tune in Thursday 4/7! “Birthing New Solutions to End Maternal Mortality”
For the fourth year in a row, Merck for Mothers will take to the stage to shine a global spotlight on the importance of access to quality maternal health at the Women in the World Summit – an annual event that brings together leaders and advocates from around the world to advance women and girls through stories and solutions.
Tune in to the summit on Thursday April 7th to watch a panel of maternal health champions discuss the most common causes of maternal death, and emphasize the dramatic advances that have been made to help make pregnancy and childbirth a safe, healthy and joyful experience for women.
The panel, "Birthing New Solutions to End Maternal Mortality," will be moderated by Alyse Nelson, Vital Voices' president and CEO, and will feature: Liya Kebede, maternal health advocate, model and founder of the Liya Kebede Foundation; Ivy Prosper, host of the Ghana TV series "The Maternal Health Channel;" Zubaida Bai, founder of AYZH, which develops health products designed to reduce maternal and infant mortality in underprivileged communities around the world; and Mary Goretti Musoke, founder of the Maria Maternity Ward and president of the Uganda Private Midwives Association.
Join us virtually and watch the panel discussion live at:
livestream.com/womenintheworld
Practicum opportunities at Center for Health Information and Analysis in Copley Square
The mission of the Center for Health Information and Analysis (CHIA) is to monitor the Massachusetts health care system and to provide reliable information and meaningful analysis for those seeking to improve health care quality, affordability, access, and outcomes. CHIA has quite a few paid internship opportunities available for this summer and they are looking for BUSPH students!
For a list of all open opportunities check out their website!
Some opportunities include:
Project Management Internship
The Project Management Internship is an exciting career building opportunity to work with Massachusetts Center for Health Information and Analysis. There are multiple in flight projects including implementation of a new website, building of an Enterprise Data Warehouse that will provide ample intellectual challenge to the successful candidate. We are looking for an energetic and enthusiastic candidate that wants to make a tangible impact on a critical component of the Commonwealth’s healthcare reform program.
The deadline to apply is April 20, 2016 with a salary range of $16 - $25 hourly.
Reporting to the Manager of the Project Management Office the IT Project Management Intern will:
•Assist in creating and managing project delivery schedules for the various CHIA initiatives
•Manage schedule containing the critical path for assigned CHIA projects
•Manage risk, action items, issues, and dependencies for projects
•Provide status reporting to management
•Adhere to CHIA’s project development lifecycle
•Create reports as required that allows ease of use and consumption.
•Integrate project management best practices into daily activities
Qualifications (Minimum Entrance Requirements):
•Minimum of 2 years of experience working in a professional environment
•Project management experience and working knowledge of MS Office Suite
•Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience
•Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing
•Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and to respond to changes in priorities in a flexible manner
•Strong organization skills
•Ability to understand business related issues and potential impact to project scope and timeline
•Experience delivering projects on-time, within budget and within scope
•Strong customer-service background to resolve user requests and maintain vendor relations
•Ability to identify, isolate and communicate issues and risks as needed
•Ability to develop procedures, standards and guidelines used throughout the agency
Preferred Qualifications:
•Experience working in a healthcare environment or public agency
•PMP certification
Health Policy Analyst Intern
CHIA’s Health System Finance team is looking for a talented Health Policy Intern to join a dynamic team that is dedicated to monitoring health care delivery and financing systems in the Commonwealth by providing meaningful, accurate analytics. The primary role of the Health Policy Intern is to provide analytic support to projects related to health care financing in the Massachusetts health care system.
The deadline to apply is April 20, 2016 with a salary range of $16 - $25 hourly.
Specifically, the Health Policy Intern will:
•Support data collection, quality assurance and analysis of payer-reported data, including total medical expenses, alternative payment methods and provider price variation
•Support the production of CHIA’s Annual Report on the Performance of Massachusetts Health Care System
•Prepare analytics, graphics and data books for the Annual Report
•Prepare data notifications for payers and providers
•Conduct research on payment methodologies and current development of ACOs
•Conduct research on value-based services (i.e., cost vs. quality for a given episode of care or given service)
•Conduct research on data sources for price/cost, quality, and utilization
•Participate in meetings and/or other projects as interested
Preferred Qualifications
It is essential that the Health Policy Intern have working knowledge of the concepts of the health care system. In addition, the Health Policy Intern should be able to demonstrate:
•Working knowledge of the Massachusetts health care system;
•Ability to write scientific and technical papers;
•Experience with data and/or policy analysis
•Ability to conduct literature reviews on a variety of topics in health policy;
•Ability to prepare and use charts, graphs, and tables to present analytical results;
•Ability to work independently and effectively with other members of the unit;
•Excellent written and oral communication skills;
•Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and Access.
Qualifications:
A Bachelor's degree with a major in public health, health services research, statistics, economics, or public policy.
House- and pet- sitter wanted
A DGH professor who lives in Jamaica Plain is looking for someone to stay at her house while she travels and take care of her dogs and cat. It is a single-family house with a yard and garden, 10 minutes’ walk from Forest Hills Station on the Orange Line. There are two dogs (an older husky and a younger border collie/lab mix) and one moderately elderly cat. All are extremely friendly. Responsibilities include daily animal care (food, walks for the dogs twice a day, cleanup, providing a lap for the cat) and minimal house upkeep (bringing in the mail, etc.). Experience caring for dogs required. Please do not apply if you already have a full time job, as the house sitter should be home for at least part of each day (e.g. when not in class). $40/day. Dates currently needed are May 5-10. If interested, please contact Sydney Rosen, sbrosen@bu.edu.
Research Specialist in Global Health and Nutrition position available
The Center for Nutrition in the Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition of Boston Children’s Hospital is searching for a Research Specialist in Global Health and Nutrition.
The candidate will be responsible for coordination of field operational, data management, and regulatory activities for international nutrition and epidemiology research projects. Data management will be one of the main responsibilities of this position including supervision of database development and the collection, entry, cleaning and reporting of clinical, research, and laboratory specimen data.
Other responsibilities include development of case report forms, study protocols, and ethical review submissions and coordination of participant screening, recruitment, and follow-up. He/she will also assist with coordination of regulatory submissions for all research projects to Institutional Review Boards and regulatory organizations.
• Provide supervision for study implementation in study communities, clinical sites, main office, and laboratories.
• Monitor study progress and data completeness and quality.
• Develop and implement systems to continuously improve study implementation and data quality.
• Regularly review data quality and coordinate resolution of queries in the field or laboratories.
• Develop and conduct trainings for study staff.
• Document key processes, events, and meetings during the course of the projects.
• Report regularly to investigators on study progress.
• Prepare reports and other documents as requested by the investigators or donor.
All activities will be conducted in close collaboration with investigators and study personnel in Boston and Dar es Salaam.
Basic qualifications:
College background or equivalent experience, preferably in Life Sciences, Biostatistics, Public Health or related field. One to two years in conduct of research studies. Demonstrated knowledge of research populations and/or technical expertise in conduct of research studies.
Additional qualifications:
Master’s Degree in Epidemiology, Statistics, Public Health or related field. Two or more years demonstrated leadership, project management skills, and technical expertise in conduct of research studies. Excellent analytical, computer, organizational, and problem solving skills, strong interpersonal and communication skills, and the ability to work independently, under supervision and as part of a team are all necessary for this position. Strong attention to detail, excellent time management, goal and detail-oriented work style, and meticulous and consistent follow through on projects are required. Experience in project management desirable, preferably in international settings. Experience liaising with Institutional Review Boards, other regulatory organizations, and academic and governmental institutions preferred. Experience in statistical programming software is desirable (preferably in SAS) but not required for this position.
For further information, please contact:
Christopher Duggan, MD, MPH
Center for Nutrition at Boston Children's Hospital
Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition
333 Longwood Avenue, 4th floor
Boston, MA 02115
tel 617-355-7612
fax 617-730-4722
Christopher.duggan@childrens.harvard.edu
Global Health 811: Applied Research Methods
GH811 is a recently developed course focused on data science methods for global health. The class is hands-on and will equip students with practical skills that employers are looking for. This course is open to all students who’ve taken both introductory biostatistics and epidemiology (EP713 and BS704).
Course Overview
In this course we focus on building skills in data, tools and methods for carrying out global health research. The class will introduce you to all stages of the research pipeline, from asking interesting questions to conducting a literature review, data collection, analysis, crafting an effective research paper and communicating results.
See the following two links for more information about the course: http://sites.bu.edu/gh811/
Contact Andrew Stokes with questions or for more information.
