Fong, Si-Lei and Le, Minh-An Thuy and Lim, Kheng-Seang and Khosama, Herlyani and Ohnmar, Ohnmar and Savath, Say and Mogal, Zarine and Cabral-Lim, Leonor and Hung, Stefanie Kar-Yan and Asranna, Ajay and Hussain, Mohammad Enayet and Ng, Chiu-Wan and Tan, Chong-Tin (2023) Affordability of newer antiseizure medications in Asian resource-limited countries. Epilepsia, 64 (8). pp. 2116-2125. ISSN 0013-9580, DOI https://doi.org/10.1111/epi.17668.
Full text not available from this repository.Abstract
Objective: One of the objectives of the Intersectoral Global Action Plan on epilepsy and other neurological disorders for 2022 to 2031 is to ensure at least 80% of people with epilepsy (PWE) will have access to appropriate, affordable, and safe antiseizure medications (ASMs) by 2031. However, ASM affordability is a significant issue in low- and middle-income countries, preventing PWE from accessing optimal treatment. This study aimed to determine the affordability of the newer (second and third generation) ASMs in resource-limited countries in Asia.Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey by contacting country representatives in lower-middle-income countries (LMICs) in Asia, including Indonesia, Lao People's Democratic Republic (PDR), Myanmar, Philippines, Vietnam, India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan, and the upper-middle-income country Malaysia, from March 2022 to April 2022. The affordability of each ASM was calculated by dividing the 30-day ASM cost by the daily wage of the lowest paid unskilled laborers. Treatment costing 1 day's wage or less for a 30-day supply of chronic disease is considered affordable.Results: Eight LMICs and one upper-middle-income country were included in this study. Lao PDR had no newer ASM, and Vietnam had only three newer ASMs. The most frequently available ASMs were levetiracetam, topiramate, and lamotrigine, and the least frequently available was lacosamide. The majority of the newer ASMs were unaffordable, with the median number of days' wages for a 30-day supply ranging from 5.6 to 14.8 days.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Funders: | ILAE Asia Oceanian Research Task Force |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | Affordability; Antiseizure medication; Asia; Resource-limited countries |
| Subjects: | R Medicine > RC Internal medicine |
| Divisions: | Faculty of Medicine |
| Depositing User: | Ms. Juhaida Abd Rahim |
| Date Deposited: | 07 Oct 2025 07:37 |
| Last Modified: | 07 Oct 2025 07:37 |
| URI: | http://eprints.um.edu.my/id/eprint/48245 |
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