Investigation and Survey of Essential Drugs Provision and Use in Primary Health Care Institutions from Some Areas in China

OBJECTIVE:To monitor and evaluate the use of essential drugs and rational use of drugs in primary health care institutions.METHODS:3 provinces were selected from the eastern,central and western of China respectively;parts of prescriptions were sampled from primary health care institutions which implemented essential drug system in first group;the quantitative indicators of the situation of essential drug use and rational use of drugs were tested and analyzed statistically before and after the implementation of national essential drug system.RESULTS:After the implementation of national essential drug system,the number of drug types per prescription in primary health care institutions decreased from 3.84 to 3.72,whereas,the decrease of antibiotics,injection and hormone use was not significant.The proportion of essential drugs use increased from 66.9% to 79.5%.CONCLUSION:After the implementation of national essential drug system,the equipment and utilization rate of essential drugs in primary health care institutions has been increased significantly,but rational use of drugs isn't improved significantly.