Availability of essential medicines, progress and regional distribution in China: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Essential medicines are the backbone of healthcare and meet the priority healthcare needs of the population. However, approximately one-third of the global population does not have access to essential medicines. Although China formulated essential medicine policies in 2009, the progress of availability of essential medicines and regional variations remains unknown. Therefore, this study was conducted to evaluate the availability of essential medicines, their progress, and regional distribution in China in the last decade.

Methods

We searched eight databases from their inception to February 2022, relevant websites, and reference lists of included studies. Two reviewers selected studies, extracted data, and evaluated the risk of bias independently. Meta-analyses wer

SUBMITTER: Zhang M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10167309 | biostudies-literature | 2023

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature