Availability, price and affordability of selected chronic medications in private retail pharmacies in Eswatini

Abstract

Chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs) have not received adequate attention in Eswatini (formerly Swaziland) due to the high burden of HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and other communicable diseases. However, in 2019, NCDs were estimated to account for 45.86% of all deaths in the country with cardiovascular diseases, diabetes mellitus and chronic respiratory conditions amongst the top ten causes of death. Persistent shortages of medicines in public health facilities in Eswatini have been observed resulting in patients purchasing their medicines from private retail pharmacies.