The WHO Global price reporting mechanism (gprm) is a web-based transaction database launched by the AMDS in April 2005. It contains information on transaction prices and quantities of antiretroviral medicines (ARVs), tuberculosis and malaria drugs and commodities purchased by HIV/AIDS, Malaria and Tuberculosis Programmes in low and middle income countries. It complements reports of price quotes from pharmaceutical companies, as well as smaller sets of transaction prices published by other sources. It also serves as a price monitoring tool that monitors and shares prices information of ARV, tuberculosis and malaria drugs and commodities to help treatment programmes in countries to compare and choose optimal pricing.

At least twice a year, the WHO publishes a summary report of the gprm data, which includes the median transaction prices paid by low- and middle-income countries for antiretroviral medicines and HIV diagnostics for adult treatment. Deciding which ARV is the best to procure is often a matter of guess work or a question of trial and error, without a wide range of information on available prices. With this tool and the reports, users can compare prices not only within their own countries but also from neighbouring markets and regions.

By knowing what prices others are paying for particular medicines, DSOs will be in a better position to negotiate for the best market price. With DSOs increasingly having to follow a tight business model, access to this kind of information is becoming crucial. In 26 countries, UNDP is using this report to check local market prices. The information also provides opportunities for testing the transparency and accountability of government-based medical activities.

Visit the WHO website to read the latest and previous reports.

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