Abstract: Aim To realize the present situation of drug purchase, supply, and use in the health service organizations and drug distributors in rural areas, and to put forward some suggestions. Methods An interview survey was conducted in 20 township hospitals, 26 countryside drugstores, and 84 village dispensaries in Hainan, Anhui, Henan, and Sichuan Provinces. Results (1) The main drug supplying organizations in the countryside are township hospitals and village dispensaries. (2) The personnel in the drug supplying organizations are rather inadequately educated. (3) The drug resources in the grass-roots countryside are complex and disordered. (4) Most of the countryside retail drugstores are small, and the number of drugstores is small, but their development potential is great. Conclusion (1) A basic drug catalogue for rural areas should be made up. (2) Legitimate drug wholesale companies should be encouraged to supply drugs for vast countryside. (3) Development of drug distributionstations in townships should be promoted. (4) The administration of drugs in the countryside should be strengthened.

Key words: drug supply, drug supply, township hospitals, township hospitals, countryside drugstores, countryside drugstores, village dispensaries, village dispensaries, drug administration, drug administration