Abstract:

National essential medicine policy (NEMP) is an important part of new health care reform and core content of national drug policy. We chose Hebei province as a case to study, utilized standard methods from WHO/HAI and built interrupted time series (ITS) model to qualitatively and quantitatively evaluate the effects of NEMP in Hebei province from the utilization of essential medicines. Shortly after implementing EMP, the purchasing and utilization rate of essential medicines significantly increased, but no further continuous effects. In order to perfect the essential medicine policy, training of rational drug utilization should be strengthened, hierarchical essential medicine list and dynamic monitoring on the effect of NEMP are necessary.

Key words: Essential medicine, Policy effect, Interrupted time series model