A Survey on Oral Antidiabetic Drugs available in Market for Non-complicated Diabetic Patients within Ratnagiri Region

Abstract

Background: This survey was designed to analyze the current oral anti-diabetic drugs prescribed for non-complicated diabetic patients within Ratnagiri region on the basis of variation in prices of same drug available in different brands. Methods: The present survey has been conducted for a period of 4 months involving number of medical stores in Ratnagiri, Maharashtra, Doctors and Patients with randomly evaluating around 650 prescriptions. A standard questionnaire was prepared containing different questions; based on patient’s data (such as age, gender, disease history and medications), Doctor’s data (commonly prescribed drug, combination) and chemist data (available alternatives, cost and most selling brands). Results: Statistical analysis of patients data revels that there were 47.5% patients are in between the ages of 50 to 60 years and 92.5 % patient depends on oral antidiabetic drugs. Hypertension was the most common complication found among them (54%). Data from Doctor’s during survey suggested Metformin as mostly prescribed drug to patients having typeII Diabetes Mellitus as a single entity or in fixed dose combinations with Glimiperide or Gliclazide. An exhaustive survey over medical shops revealed that many brands of Metformin and Metformin in combination with Glimiperide or Gliclazide are available in market, but Glycomate (Metformin), Glycomate GP-1 (Metformin and Glimiperide) and Glizid-M (Metformin and Gliclazide) is mostly prescribed by Doctors and sold by Chemist though their cheapest alternatives are available in market. Cost analysis indicates that, wide variation in price of several brands (75-87 %) for oral anti-diabetics. Annual Turnover of these products in Indian domestic market indicates dominance of USV Pvt. Ltd. and Mankind Ltd. over other Pharmaceutical companies. Conclusions: This report will create better awareness among people for the availability of various brands of same anti-diabetic drug and also motivate our physicians to prescribe the economic products.