Comparison of drugs subject to control according to the Peruvian Observatory of Pharmaceutical Products; Comparación de medicamentos sujetos a control según el Observatorio Peruano de Productos Farmacéuticos

Abstract

Introduction: The difference between moderate and rigid control of medicines constitutes a complex process that leads to errors by the pharmaceutical establishment during the availability and sale of medicines. Objective: To compare the Observatory's information for drugs under a moderate and rigid control regime in private pharmaceutical establishments in Lima, Peru. Methods: In this quantitative study, open-access secondary data from the Observatory were analyzed according to the list of controlled drugs of the Peruvian General Directorate of Supplies, Medicines and Drugs (Dirección General de Insumos, Medicamentos y Drogas del Perú). List IIA (rigid regulation) and IVB (moderate regulation) drugs were evaluated, and the variables available in the Observatory were compared with parametric and nonparametric statistics. Results: Controlled drugs were differentiated by sales establishments (p = 0.001), and their average cost according to private (p = 0.035) and public (p = 0.003) marketing. IIA drugs showed lower availability and higher price with respect to IVB drugs. Conclusions: Rigidly controlled drugs are less available and more expensive. © 2024 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.