OBJECTIVES: In Armenia the great majority of patients purchases most of medicines out of pocket and has to select among products which have very different price. The objective of this study was evaluating the prices of medicines available for outpatients in pharmacy outlets in Armenia.

METHODS: Data on availability and patient prices for 63 tracer medicines were collected from 30 pharmacy outlets in different regions of Armenia. For each tracer medicine (with indicated specific dosage form and strength) all the products authorized in Armenia were included in the Survey form.

RESULTS: Almost all (n=62) the selected tracer medicines were available on the pharmaceutical market. Originator brands (OB) for 10 and generics for 62 of 63 tracer medicines were available in at least two pharmacy outlets. For 3 medicines (Ceftriaxone, Fluconazole and Amlodipine) the originator brand and more than ten generics were available on the pharmaceutical market. In all the cases when OBs were available, they were higher priced than lowest priced generics (LPGs). Using matched medicine pairs (OBs:LPGs ratio for 10 medicines), the price of OBs were on average 6.5 times the price of LPGs. For one medicine (Ceftriaxone) OB was more than ten times more expensive than LPG. For two medicines (Fluconazole and Amoxicillin / Clavulanic Acid) highest priced generics (HPGs) were more expensive than OBs. For Fluconazole HPG was ten times more expensive than LPG.

CONCLUSIONS: Lowest priced generic equivalents are much more available than originator brands. Originator brands are more expensive than the lowest priced generics, however in some cases are less expensive than the highest priced generics. Changes in national reimbursement policy and regulation are necessary. Recommendations are drafted. As community pharmacists have to provide detailed information about all the equivalent products available at pharmacy outlets, continuing professional education of pharmacists on national regulation could decrease spending on medicines.