Over 80% of Essential Medicines Covered in Basic Medical Care in China Has Lagged Behind

On May 27th, the State Council's Medical Reform Office and the Ministry of Health jointly held a video teleconference to accelerate the comprehensive reform of primary health care institutions. Sun Zhigang, deputy director of the National Development and Reform Commission and director of the State Council's Medical Reform Office, pointed out in his speech that the comprehensive reform of grass-roots medical institutions lags behind the expansion of the coverage of basic drug systems, leading to the lag in the construction of new mechanisms.

Sun Zhigang pointed out that practice has proved that only by advancing comprehensive reforms can we establish new mechanisms to safeguard public welfare, mobilize enthusiasm, and ensure sustainability at the grassroots level. At present, it is the best time for the establishment of a new mechanism. The attention of all levels of government, the consensus of all sectors of society, and the huge increase in investment should be taken as the motive force for accelerating the construction of the new mechanism and further accelerate the construction of the new mechanism. We must seize the key links in grass-roots comprehensive reforms, make every effort to build new mechanisms for the operation of primary health care institutions, establish a public welfare management system, a competitive employment mechanism, an incentive distribution mechanism, a standardized drug procurement mechanism, and long-term effectiveness. Multi-channel compensation mechanism.

Sun Zhigang stated that all localities must simultaneously complete the complete coverage of the basic drug system and the comprehensive reform of basic medical and health institutions to achieve a smooth transition of the old and new mechanisms. Establish a strong promotion mechanism and responsibility system, formulate a timetable and roadmap for comprehensive grass-roots reforms, strengthen classified guidance and key supervision, and strengthen medical reforms and guidance.

Zhang Mao, secretary of the Party Group of the Ministry of Health and deputy head of the State Council's Medical Reform Leading Group, pointed out at the meeting that the promotion of the basic drug system and comprehensive reform of primary health care institutions is a hard task that must be completed this year. It is necessary to carry out comprehensive reform work that suits the actual conditions of the local grass-roots medical and health institutions and the conditions for the implementation of essential medicines in accordance with the actual conditions of each region. The experience of reforms in some areas is worth learning from elsewhere.

Up to now, more than 40,000 grass-roots medical and health institutions have conducted zero sales of essential drugs. According to the medical reform monitoring data, the number of outpatient visits increased significantly and the cost of medical services decreased significantly.

The comprehensive reform of primary health care institutions refers to the reform of management, personnel, distribution, security, and drug procurement systems, and is committed to establishing new mechanisms for the sustainable development of primary health care institutions and reforming the old mechanism of “taking medicine to support medicine”. Sichuan made use of information to promote comprehensive reforms, Anhui consolidates the achievements of comprehensive reforms, and Heilongjiang's experience in the practice of centralized drug procurement and comprehensive reforms. (Reporter Li Hongmei)