SDSU Healthcare Costs Jordanian Healthcare Accessibility & Utilization Discussion
There is evidence that MeTA has already improved access and affordability to medicines in Jordan. A 2009 MeTA health facilities survey found medicine prices in Jordan were much higher than in similar and even wealthier countries, because the JFDA had been pricing new medicines based on the median price in a selection of high-income countries. The survey’s finding prompted JFDA to address pricing. It formed a multistakeholder committee to investigate the issue, and the committee recommended a change to the reference countries. Medicine prices have now fallen. A Pharmaceutical Situation Reassessment survey conducted in 2014, showed average prices of 50 branded medicines in Jordan had fallen from 19 to 14.51 times the international reference price from 2009. For generic medicines, the ratio dropped from 9.75 to 9.07.
Stakeholders believe that the policy reform as well as the development of the Essential Medicines List will reduce Jordan’s expenditure on medicine, which has been high by international standards. The National Health Accounts show that pharmaceutical expenditure was 36.3% of the health budget in 2008 and 26.75% in 2012. “80% of the medicines budget is spent on 20% of medicines,” says the Secretary-General of the Jordanian Association of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers, Dr Hanan Sboul. “Being more rational about procurement means more medicines can be bought for Jordan. It will make spending more rational and increase access.”
Indeed, availability of essential medicines in the public sector has improved since the establishment of MeTA. A 2014 Pharmaceutical Situation Reassessment found 15 key medicines were available in 86.7% of pharmacies in the public sector, a rise from 79% in 2009. The availability of 50 key medicines in the public and private sector has risen to 75% from 62.9%
