Analytical assessment of hypoglycemic drugs’ availability in the regional pharmaceutical market: The case of Sverdlovsk region

Introduction. Analysis of hypoglycemic drugs’ availability is an important task for assessing the quality of medical care for patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). More patients with T2DM and new treatment approaches require a comprehensive analysis of the consumption and availability of drugs at the regional level. Purpose. The study analyzes the consumption of hypoglycemic drugs of various pharmacological groups as standard average maintenance daily doses (DDD) among the patients with different types of preferential provision (federal, regional benefits) and patients purchasing drugs at their own expense in 2022 and 2023 in Sverdlovsk region. Materials and Methods. The study refers to the data on the consumption of hypoglycemic drugs of the main pharmacological groups as standard average maintenance daily doses (DDD), as well as the information on DDD cost and the consumption structure in cash. Unlike most studies which focus either on a concessional segment or a commercial market, this study offers a comprehensive analysis with four segments of the regional pharmaceutical market: federal preferential provision, regional preferential provision, outpatient, and hospital segments. The work used the methods of structural analysis and indices of financial, physical, and relative accessibility. Results. The total consumption of hypoglycemic drugs in DDD showed no significant changes within the study period, but the consumption structure changed. More biguanides and sulfonylurea derivatives are consumed, while glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists are consumed less. DDD prices decreased for most groups of drugs, which contributed to their higher affordability. At the same time, the share of preferential patients increased, and the consumption in the outpatient segment decreased. Conclusions. The results of the study indicate the need to review the subsidy strategy in order to make innovative drugs more accessible. The obtained information can be the ground to develop strategies aimed at improving the availability of hypoglycemic drugs at the regional level.