Abstract
Despite the heightened interest in the African pharmaceutical market, there are constraints and challenges that continue to affect access to medicines. One of the key constraints is the high prices of medicines. In the private sector, wholesale and retail mark-ups have been found to range from 2% to 380% and from 10% to 552%, respectively (Cameron et al., 2011). A later study found wholesaler mark-ups between 25% and 50% (IMS Health, 2014a; 2014b), and retail mark-ups between 25% and 500% (Rosen and Rickwood, 2014). Local manufacturers and importers alike have expressed concern over the high mark-ups in the distribution chain, as the exorbitant prices are believed to limit patients’ access and sales.
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© 2016 Skhumbuzo Ngozwana
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Ngozwana, S. (2016). Policies to Control Prices of Medicines: Does the South African Experience Have Lessons for Other African Countries?. In: Mackintosh, M., Banda, G., Tibandebage, P., Wamae, W. (eds) Making Medicines in Africa. International Political Economy Series. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-137-54647-0_12
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-137-54647-0_12
Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, London
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Online ISBN: 978-1-137-54647-0
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