The effect of the National Essential Medicines Policy on health expenditures and service delivery in Chinese township health centres: evidence from a longitudinal study.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

The government of China has introduced a National Essential Medicines Policy (NEMP) in the new round of health system reform. The objective of this paper is to analyse whether the NEMP can play a role in curbing the rise of medical expenditures without disrupting the availability of healthcare services at township hospitals in China.

Design

This study adopted a pre-post treatment-control study design. A difference-in-differences method and fixed-effects model for panel data were employed to estimate the effect of the NEMP.

Setting

Chongqing, Jiangsu and Henan Province, in China, in 2009 and 2010.

Participants

296 township health centres.

Outcome measures

Outcomes for health expenditures were average outpatient drug expenses per visit, average

SUBMITTER: Zhang X 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4275670 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature