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Abstract #156290

Ann S. Goldman, MA, MPH, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, The George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services, 2300 I Street, NW, Suite 119E, Washington, DC 20037, 202-994-4581, sphasg@gwumc.edu, Robert Yee, BSc, DDS, MSc, Oral Health, Dentaid, Giles Lane, Landford, SP52BG, United Kingdom, Christopher Holmgren, BDS, PhD, WHO Collaborating Centre, UMC St. Radboud, PO Box 9101, Nijmegen, 6500HB, Netherlands, and Habib Benzian, DDS, PhD, Development and Public Health, FDI World Dental Federation, 13 Chemin du Levant, Ferney-Voltaire, France.

Objective: To evaluate the affordability of essential medicines by examining the case of fluoride toothpaste. Dental caries remains the most common non-communicable disease worldwide and the use of fluoride toothpaste is a most effective public health measure to prevent it. Methods: Fluoride toothpaste consumer price data were obtained from a self-completion questionnaire from 48 countries. The cost of fluoride toothpaste in high-, middle- and low-income countries was compared and related to annual household expenditure as well as to days of work needed to purchase the average annual consumption per head. Results: Fluoride toothpaste is not equally affordable in high-, middle- and low-income countries. Results suggest that the poorer the country, the greater the financial burden of purchase particularly for the poorest 20% of the population. To purchase the annual average dosage (182.5g), costs only 0.03 days of household expenditure in the UK, compared to 9 days in Zambia, and represents from 0.02% to 4% in Zambia of annual household expenditure in Japan and Zambia, respectively. Conclusions: Significant inequities in the affordability of this essential medication indicate the necessity for action to make it more affordable. Various measures to improve affordability of fluoride toothpaste based on experiences from essential pharmaceuticals are proposed.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe the inequities in the global affordability of fluoride toothpaste, an effective measure in preventing tooth decay. 2.Articulate measures to reduce costs of fluoride toothpaste.

Keywords: Oral Health Outcomes, Child Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No
Any institutionally-contracted trials related to this submission?

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.