Evaluation of Need and Distribution of National Essential Medicines List in Village Clinics: A Cross-sectional Study Based on the Perspective of Village Doctors in China

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the satisfaction of village doctors to essential medicines list (EML) and accessibility of essential medicines (EMs) distribution to improve the implementation of EML in village clinics. A total of 422 village doctors from five counties in three provinces of China were surveyed by questionnaires. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify the main factors associated with village doctors’ evaluation of EML. The results showed that village doctors had a negative evaluation in satisfaction level of EML to village-based care and accessibility of EM distribution. The government should adjust EML regularly based on the actual health status of local villagers in China and focus on adding appropriate drugs that meet the needs of villagers with chronic disease. The local government should also attach importance to the distribution of EMs and maintain their supply in village clinics.

References

[1] LaingR, WaningB, GrayA, et al.. 25 years of the WHO essential medicines lists: progress and challenges. Lancet, 2003, 361(9370): 1723-1729

[2] Anon. Revised procedures for updating the WHO model list of essential drugs: a summary of proposals and process, 2001

[3] BertoldiAD, HelferAP, CamargoAL, et al.. Is the Brazilian pharmaceutical policy ensuring population access to essential medicines?. Global Health, 2012, 8(1): 1-10

[4] RudisillC, VandorosS, AntounJG. J Health Polit Policy Law, 2014, 39(3): 691-705

[5] ManikandanS, GitanjaliB. National list of essential medicines of India: the way forward. J Postgrad Med, 2012, 58(1): 68

[6] YipM, HsiaoC, ChenW, et al.. Early appraisal of China’s huge and complex health-care reforms. Lancet, 2012, 379(9818): 833-842

[7] of healthM. Suggestions for establishing the national basic drug system, 2009

[8] The State Council.. Opinions on consolidating and improving the essential medicines system and the new operation mechanism at the grass-roots level, 2013

[9] WeiC, FangY, FanD, et al.. The effect of implementing “medicines zero mark-up policy” in Beijing community health facilities. Southern Med Review, 2012, 5(1): 53

[10] Ministry of health, Issuing national essential medicines list(2012).2012,Available from: http://www.gov.cn/gzdt/2013-03/15/content_2355142.html

[11] TianX, SongY, ZhangX. National Essential Medicines List and policy practice: A case study of China’s health care reform. BMC Health Serv Res, 2012, 12(1): 1-8

[12] YinS, SongY, BianY. Does the essential medicines policy succeed in China? empirical study on rational medicine use in primary health care institutions. Ther Innov Regul Sci, 2014, 48(6): 689-695

[13] YuQQ, YinWQ, ZhaoYK. Cognitive and Evaluation of Rural Doctors on Essential Drugs Policy and Countermeasure Research. Chin Gen Pract (Chinese), 2014, 19: 2277-2280

[14] YangL, HuangC, LiuC. Distribution of essential medicines to primary care institutions in Hubei of China: effects of centralized procurement arrangements. BMC Health Serv Res, 2017, 17(1): 727

[15] YinZ, MinC, XiuS. Challenges of basic public health services provided by village doctors in Guizhou, China. Asia Pac J Public Health, 2015, 27: 69S-76S

[16] SongY, BianY, LiL. Current perspectives on China’s national essential medicine system: primary care provider and patient views. BMC Health Serv Res, 2015, 16(1): 30

[17] FangLB. Study on availability of essential medicine of rural residents Shandong province from the demanders’ perspective, 2016

[18] HealthFamily planning commission}N. China health statistics yearbook in 2017, 2017, Beijing, China Union Medical University Press

[19] ChenW, TangS, SunJ, et al.. Availability and use of essential medicines in China: manufacturing, supply, and prescribing in Shandong and Gansu provinces. BMC Health Serv Res, 2010, 10: 211

[20] YoongthongW, HuS, WhittyJ A, et al.. National drug policies to local formulary decisions in Thailand, China, and Australia: drug listing changes and opportunities. Value Health, 2012, 15: S126-S131

[21] BarberSL, HuangB, SantosoB, et al.. The reform of the essential medicines system in China: a comprehensive approach to universal coverage. J Glob Health, 2013, 3(1): 010303

[22] YangL, LiuC, FerrierJA, et al.. The impact of the National Essential Medicines Policy on prescribing behaviours in primary care facilities in Hubei province of China. Health Policy Plan, 2013, 28(7): 750-760

[23] FangR, WangS, LiY. Study on Multi-layer and Competitive Model for Drug Purchase and Distribution among Local Healthcare Institutes—Taking Sichuan Local Healthcare Institutes as an Example. Soft Sci (Chinese), 2014, 28(2): 106-110

[24] CaoY, LiS, XiaoZ. The analysis of the framework building and current implementation status of centralized bidding and purchasing of National Essential Medicine System. Chin Health Econ (Chinese), 2012, 31(11): 51-53

[25] WangW, LiC, XiaoL. The procurement and supply of essential medicines in rural primary medical institutions in poor or remote areas of three provinces (autonomous regions) in central and western China. Chin Health Resour (Chinese), 2017, 20(6): 485-489

[26] YangS, XiangX, YangC. The Status and Problems of Essential Medicine Delivery in Hubei Village Health Care. Med Society (Chinese), 2013, 26(7): 28-30

[27] NingBo. Theory, practice and effect of circulation system to essential medicine policy, 2014

[28] LiX, LiuJ, HuangJ, et al.. An analysis of the current educational status and future training needs of China’s rural doctors in 2011. J Postgrad Med, 2013, 89(1050): 202-208

[29] YangF, LiS, ZhouC. Surveying the County Doctors’ knowledge Attitude and Practice on National System for Basic Pharmaceuticals. Chin Health Serv Manage (Chinese), 2016, 33(6): 433-434

[30] ZhaoYJ, HuoZ, WuJ, et al.. Impact on the performance of health workers adopted performance-related contracts in the provision of basic public health service at village and township levels. Iran J Public Health, 2013, 42(4): 358

[31] SongY, BianY, PetzoldM, et al.. The impact of China’s national essential medicine system on improving rational drug use in primary health care facilities: an empirical study in four provinces. BMC Health Serv Res, 2014, 14(1): 507