Trends in cost and consumption of essential medicines for non-communicable diseases in Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Uzbekistan, from 2019 to 2021.

Georgia showed the highest outpatient consumption of NCD medicines, suggesting the broadest access to treatment. However, Georgia also saw marked price increases, greater than in the other countries. In Georgia, where there was no price regulation, widespread price increases and increases in consumption both contribute to increasing pharmaceutical expenditures. In Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan, increases in outpatient pharmaceutical expenditures were primarily driven by increases in consumption, rather than increases in price. Comparing trends in consumption and pricing can identify gaps in access and inform future policy approaches.