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A retrospective and prospective assessment of the zero‐markup drug reform in China from the perspective of policy diffusion
Author(s) -
Deng Jianwei,
Tian Huilin,
Guo Yilun,
Ma Tengyang,
Sun Yangjie,
Zhang Shiyang,
Yang Tianan,
Tian Xu
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
the international journal of health planning and management
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.672
H-Index - 41
eISSN - 1099-1751
pISSN - 0749-6753
DOI - 10.1002/hpm.2562
Subject(s) - markup language , china , government (linguistics) , health care reform , business , health policy , health care , medicine , public economics , political science , economic growth , economics , xml , computer science , law , world wide web , linguistics , philosophy
Summary The zero‐markup drug policy is an important component of the new round of Chinese health care reform that began in 2009 to promote the separation between medical and pharmaceutical services, reduce patients' medical burden, and improve the medical supply security system. Over the past 8 years, the zero‐markup drug reform policy has been carried out in 4 pilot rounds (a policy diffusion model with Chinese characteristics) and has been promoted throughout the mainland China. At this critical point, it is necessary to review this policy systematically. Therefore, based on the literature, government documents, and interview records, this study analyzed the characteristics, progress, achievements, challenges, and recommendations of zero‐markup drug reform by using the policy diffusion theory. The study found that zero‐markup drug reform has completed its initial diffusion by use of the “policy experiment” method and has reduced drug prices and patients' burden to a certain extent. However, in the next phase of policy diffusion, the reform still requires adjustment and innovative measures to respond to future challenges. Generally speaking, as China's unique health care reform practice, the experience of zero‐markup drug reform could be used as a reference for other countries to control drug prices, separate medical and pharmaceutical services, and establish a modern system of hospital operation.