title: A study to evaluate the price control of antifungal medicines and its practical applicability.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Superficial fungal infections are common and treatment imposes economic burden on the patients. Government of India had introduced price control over griseofulvin and tolnaftate in 1995; however, this measure can only benefit the needy if the policy is harmonized with the health-care service provider, that is, dermatologists. The aim of this study was to evaluate the existing Government mechanisms over price control of antifungal medications and its reach to the people-in-need.
  
  
  METHODS
  A questionnaire-based, cross-sectional study was carried out over a period of 6 months. Questionnaire was mailed to members of a state branch of Indian Association of Dermatologists, Venereologists, and Leprologists. Responses reaching investigators within 2 months from the date of mailing were finally analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among 93 (41.33%) respondents, only 6 (6.5%) were aware of existing price control over griseofulvin but none about tolnaftate. Thirty-nine (41.9%) respondents were in favor of introducing price control on terbinafine and 42 (45.2%) for itraconazole. The topically preferred antifungals were primarily azoles and terbinafine, while among systemic antifungals, dermatologists mostly preferred fluconazole and terbinafine. The choice of antifungals by the dermatologists matched with the evidence-based dermatology data.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Currently, price-controlled antifungal drugs are less commonly used by practitioners. Although the dermatologists favor price control, the initiative undertaken by the Government has not reached them. This shows the need to bridge the gap between policy makers and health-care service providers to help the ailing population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Burdwan Medical College, Burdwan, India.
authors.forename: Amrita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sil
authors.forename: Nilay Kanti
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Das
authors.forename: Pramit
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ghosh
authors.forename: Pijush Kanti
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Datta
authors.forename: Chowdhury Nazrul
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Islam
authors.forename: Santanu Kumar
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Tripathi
mesh_terms: D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000191:economics* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003363:Cost Control / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D035082:Federal Government; D033161:Government Regulation; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D009181:Mycoses / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000191:economics*; D010820:Physicians; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents