Effects of essential medicines on cardiovascular products available for the market in Thailand

National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM) is an important policy on drugs, which also covers the drug availability. However, the link between the list and the availability of medicine products for the market is not clear. The objectives of this study were to examine the effects of essential medicines (EM) on the patterns and values of cardiovascular products available for the market in Thailand. Issues investigated were proportions of products, expansions of generic names, involvement of producers and relation between the numbers of EM generic names and production values of products. Data sources were NLEM, Thailand Index of Medical Specialities and drug statistics by Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Results revealed the availability of 623 products from 127 generic names. On average, EM products showed significantly greater proportions and EM generic names demonstrated larger expansions than non-EM. Domestic producers contributed to List A products by a significantly higher percentage than foreign, but only foreign producers introduced List D products. There was a positive and significant relation between the numbers of EM generic names and the production values of products. In conclusion, it was clear that EM had effects on the patterns and the values of cardiovascular products available for the market. Subsequent prices and expenditure due to the patterns and values of product availability could be low or high. These findings could be advantageous in using essential medicines as a means to avoid the negative consequences by addressing the significance of its kinds and numbers when selecting it in the list.