Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42396424›Full record

ArticleIndian journal of psychiatry2026

Economic barriers to psychiatric care: A comparative cost analysis of essential psychiatric drugs and Janaushadhi alternatives.

Omar Afroz, Raja Babu Ramawat, Siddharth Sarkar

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Indian journal of psychiatry, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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0citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors.

Omar AfrozDepartment of Psychiatry, AIIMS, New Delhi, India.
Raja Babu RamawatDepartment of Psychiatry, AIIMS, New Delhi, India.
Siddharth SarkarNational Drug Dependence Treatment Centre (NDDTC), AIIMS, New Delhi, India.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: Access to affordable medications is an important determinant of treatment adherence and continuity of care. High out-of-pocket expenditure and cost disparities pose barriers and contribute to poor treatment adherence. Aim: We aimed to (1) analyze cost variation among different brands of essential psychiatric medications listed in the National List of Essential Medications (NLEM) 2022, and (2) compare market prices with corresponding generic drugs from the Janaushadhi Scheme. Methods: A cross-sectional price analysis was conducted using the current index of medical specialties (CIMS) and the Janaushadhi database. Results: There was high variation in market costs, ranging from 20.8% (Carbamazepine liquid) to 1604.4% (Clonazepam 0.5 mg). Median branded costs were higher than generic Janaushadhi prices. The cost ratio (branded price/generic price) was highest for Escitalopram 10 mg tablet (>7). Conclusion: Substantial price variation exists even among essential psychiatric medications, potentially undermining equitable access, particularly for economically disadvantaged groups.

Indexed as

Cost of psychiatric medicationsJanaushadhimental health equityNLEMtreatment adherence

Identifiers

PMID42396424
PMCPMC13327402

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