Compared with developed economies, health expenditure in China is not particularly high on a per capita basis or as a share of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Similarly, pharmaceutical expenditure in comparative perspective is not particularly high on a per capita basis or as a percentage of GDP. China's exceptionally high rate of pharmaceutical expenditure has important implications for the future of a health care system that not only serves a rapidly aging population, but encourages overuse of drugs in ways that are both financially and medically inefficient. Pharmaceutical reform is therefore a high priority for China's health policymakers. Several factors are discussed for reforming this system based on lessons from recent reforms. The section following this introduction briefly reviews the expansion of basic medical insurance coverage in the 2000s and several structural features of the pharmaceutical sector in China. The related concepts of an essential medicines policy, an essential drug list, and a generic drug policy are briefly described in first section. The second section of the paper looks at several hurdles that are built into the path of essential medicines reform. The third section considers some lessons for pharmaceutical reform based on China's recent learning from regional experimentation and piloting initiatives. The fourth section considers several relevant lessons derived from reform experiences in other countries. The fifth section looks at the path forward-success factors for implementing an essential medicines program based on low-cost generic drugs.
Details
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Document Date
2010/06/01
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Document Type
Working Paper (Numbered Series)
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Report Number
58413
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Volume No
1
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Total Volume(s)
2
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Country
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Region
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Disclosure Date
2010/12/14
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Disclosure Status
Disclosed
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Doc Name
Executive summary
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Keywords
payments for health services;access to health care;generic drug;provider payment;access to innovation;health technology assessment;source of funding;conflicts of interest;health insurance fund;risk of cost;quality of care;essential medicines;reform plan;Essential Drugs;health good;scientific assessment;drug price;market force;pharmaceutical policy;medical technology;supply chain;scientific expert;pharmaceutical multinationals;generic price;health expenditure;drug industry;market mechanism;urban population;direct subsidy;Direct Subsidies;insurance payment;medical service;pharmaceutical representatives;aging population;pharmaceutical reform;national health;Medical technologies;health facility;supplemental income;financial incentive;pharmaceutical sector;Innovative Medicines;systemic reform;resource availability;Pharmaceutical Industry;active partner;
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Citation
A generic drug policy as cornerstone to essential medicines in China : Executive summary (Chinese). China health policy notes ; no. 4 Washington, D.C. : World Bank Group. http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/196881468219294928/Executive-summary