The impact of the provincial reimbursement scheme on the use of targeted anticancer medications in Zhejiang, China: a controlled interrupted time-series analysis

doi:10.5246/jcps.2021.07.047

Abstract

Abstract:

To alleviate problems with access and affordability, six targeted anticancer medications (TAMs) were listed in the Provincial Reimbursement Drug List (PRDL) for the first time in Zhejiang, China in February 2015. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate the implementation of the PRDL policy on TAMs use. Using the pharmaceutical procurement data of these six listed TAMs (study group) and four unlisted TAMs (control group) from 22 tertiary hospitals in Zhejiang, China dated between January 2014 and February 2017, interrupted time-series analysis was adopted to examine differences in the average hospital purchasing volume (HPV) and the average hospital purchasing spending (HPS) between the two groups. The average daily cost of listed TAMs in the study group was decreased after April 2015. After enlistment, the average HPV per month was significantly increased by 34.6 defined daily doses (DDDs) (P < 0.001), and the average HPS per month was significantly increased by USD 6614.9 (P < 0.001) for the listed TAMs in the study group (n = 6). Neither the average HPV nor the average HPS changed significantly for the unlisted TAMs in the control group (n = 4). The PRDL policy showed positive effects on improving patients’ affordability and promoting access to TAMs in Zhejiang. The government should conduct further price negotiations and include more TAMs with clinical benefits into reimbursement schemes to relieve patients’ financial burden and promote access.

Key words: Provincial reimbursement, Targeted anticancer medications, Interrupted time-series

Supporting:

Cong Huang, Carolina Oi Lam Ung, Haishaerjiang Wushouer, Ziyue Xu, Yichen Zhang, Xiaodong Guan, Luwen Shi. The impact of the provincial reimbursement scheme on the use of targeted anticancer medications in Zhejiang, China: a controlled interrupted time-series analysis[J]. Journal of Chinese Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2021, 30(7): 590-597.

Figures/Tables 4

References 40

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