Proposed methodology for monitoring antiretroviral drugs price negotiations in Latin America and the Caribbean.
OBJECTIVE
The spread of HIV/AIDS challenges governments to provide antiretroviral (ARV) treatment at affordable prices, and various initiatives have been developed with that intent. In Latin America and the Caribbean, four subregional negotiations were conducted during 2002-2005 to reduce drug prices and thus broaden access to ARVs. Studies were carried out to monitor the negotiations, and the development of a monitoring methodology was recommended. The objective of the current study was to develop and describe a potential methodology for monitoring ARV price negotiations.


METHODS
The study, carried out in 2006-2007, consisted of a design phase and validation phase. The design phase included an extensive literature review and development of a theoretical framework. Validation was performed using health professional consensus and pilot studies in three countries-Barbados, Honduras, and Peru-representing the Caribbean, Central American, and Andean subregions.


RESULTS
The results included a detailed logic model and a 40-indicator framework. Both were tested in the field. Indicators were evaluated for feasibility, pertinence, and sensitivity, based on the outcome of the pilot study.


CONCLUSIONS
This monitoring methodology is designed to help countries self-evaluate progress toward implementation of ARV price negotiations. The results of the pilot study indicate that its implementation in the field helped elucidate the ARV price negotiation process by identifying local conditions and indirectly measuring countries' negotiating capacities.
Osorio-de-Castro
Claudia G S
CG
Center for Pharmaceutical Policies, Sérgio Arouca National School of Public Health, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil. claudia.osorio@ensp.fiocruz.br
Crisante
Maruja
M
Miranda
Elaine S
ES
Oliveira
Egléubia A
EA
Oliveira
Maria A
MA
D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents / Q000191:economics*; D017691:Caribbean Region; D003132:Commerce / Q000379:methods*; D007843:Latin America; D018803:Models, Economic
D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents