Analysis of rational prescription of medicines by village clinics: a repeated cross-sectional study of a province in eastern China.

OBJECTIVE

To analyse the rational prescription of medicines by village clinics following China's implementation of the New Healthcare System Reform (NHCSR).

DESIGN

Retrospective study.

SETTING

Village clinics in a province in eastern China.

PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES: Our evaluation was based on the core drug use indicators reported in the study 'How to Investigate Drug Use in Health Facilities: Selected Drug Use Indicators'.

RESULTS

The level of rational use of medicines (RUMs) in village clinics improved in 2018 compared with 2009; the average number of drugs per prescription decreased from 3.66 to 2.77, the percentage of prescriptions including antibiotics decreased from 65.40% to 46.00%, and the percentage of prescriptions including injections decreased from 55.75% to 37.48% (all p<0.01), whereas the percentage of drugs prescribed from the list of essential medicines increased from 66.50% to 80.34%, and the percentage of drugs prescribed by generic names increased from 61.29% to 70.65% (all p<0.01).

CONCLUSION

The level of RUMs improved after the implementation of the NHCSR, however, it was found that there was still a gap between the level of RUMs in 2018 and the international reference value. Financial investments, electronic prescription systems, improved supervision and regular training are essential actions that must be implemented.