OBJECTIVES : The study aimed to complete a postmarketing surveillance and estimate the cost of five brands of ciprofloxacin hydrochloride 500 mg tablets available in Mongolia.

METHODS : The quality control parameters of five different brands of ciprofloxacin hydrochloride 500 mg tablets were tested and evaluated against British Pharmacopoeia (BP) and Mongolian National Pharmacopoeia (MNP). The cost of five leading brands of ciprofloxacin hydrochloride 500 mg tablet was obtained from selected retail pharmacies and wholesalers by using a WHO standardized methodology. A Median Price Ratio (MPR) was calculated in order to compare the wholesaling and retail costs of ciprofloxacin tablets with their counterparts reported by the Management Sciences for Health (MSH).

RESULTS : In accordance with pharmacopeia requirements, all samples were tested in regards with their weight variation, friability, disintegration, dissolution and assay content. All brands were in compliance with pharmacopeia in terms of weight variation (0.8%-3.4%) and friability (0.6-1.5). Assay content indicated that all samples were within approved limits [Brand C -98.4 %, Brand B -100.3%, Brand D -99.1%, Brand A-101.5%, Brand C-102.8%].However, disintegration and dissolution tests were non-compliant for Brand B and C. The mean cost of ciprofloxacin tablets was 0.12 US$ (0.05-0.33US$) at wholesaler and 0.13 US$ (0.07-0.24US$) at the retail level. When compared with international price, an MPR of 1.4 for wholesale and MPR of 2.6 for retail level was obtained. The costs of Brand B and C were twice at the wholesale level and up to 5 times higher than in other countries.

CONCLUSIONS : Only 60% of sampled products met the BP and MNP requirements. More significantly, low quality ciprofloxacin tablets are more expensive than those at the international market. Regular postmarketing studies on quality of drugs need to be conducted in order to assure the quality and safety of ciprofloxacin, as well control the cost of ciprofloxacin in Mongolia.