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Table 3 Summary of median price ratios (MPR) of the surveyed over-the-counter medicines in retail pharmacies

From: Evaluating availability and price of essential medicines in Boston area (Massachusetts, USA) using WHO/HAI methodology

3(a). All Medicines analysis

 

Overall

Chain Pharmacies

Independent Pharmacies

 

Originator Brand

(medicines = 9)

Lowest Price Generic

(medicines = 11)

Originator Brand

(medicines = 9)

Lowest Price Generic

(medicines = 11)

Originator Brand

(medicines = 9)

Lowest Price Generic

(medicines = 9)

Median MPR

21.33

11.53

20.81

11.53

17.98

9.43

Minimum, Maximum MPR

11.41, 41.24

2.68, 29.42

11.41, 143.13

2.68, 112.08

11.69, 37.27

2.55, 31.58

3(b). Matched pair analysis

 

Originator Brand

Lowest Price Generic

Originator Brand

Lowest Price Generic

Originator Brand

Lowest Price Generic

OB-LPG pairs = 9

OB-LPG pairs = 9

OB-LPG pairs = 8

Median MPR

21.33

14.56

20.81

15.81

17.81

9.50

Minimum, Maximum MPR

11.41, 41.24

5.40, 29.42

11.41, 143.13

5.79, 112.08

11.69, 35.15

3.55, 31.58

  1. In 'all medicines' analysis, the overall median MPRs for the originator brand (OB) and lowest price generic (LPG) versions of the over-the-counter (OTC) medicines were marginally different (p-value = 0.056). In chain pharmacies, the median MPRs of the OB and LPG versions were not statistically different (p-value = 0.11). Whereas in the independent pharmacies, the median MPRs of the OB and LPG were statistically different (p-value = 0.004). Furthermore, the median MPRs of the OB version of OTC medicine in chain pharmacy were not statistically different (p-value = 0.96) from that in the independent pharmacy. Similarly, the median MPRs of the LPG versions were marginally different (p-value = 0.503) among the chain and independent pharmacies.
  2. In 'matched pair' analysis, the overall median MPRs of the OB and LPG versions of OTC medicines were statistically different (p-value = 0.03). Within both chain and independent pharmacies, the median MPRs of the OB and LPG versions of OTC medicines were statistically different (chain p-value = 0.008; independent p-value = 0.03) from each other