Frontiers in Public Health (Apr 2023)

Availability of essential medicines, progress and regional distribution in China: a systematic review and meta-analysis

  • Miao Zhang,
  • Miao Zhang,
  • Miao Zhang,
  • Miao Zhang,
  • Miao Zhang,
  • Kun Zou,
  • Kun Zou,
  • Kun Zou,
  • Kun Zou,
  • Zheng Liu,
  • Zheng Liu,
  • Zheng Liu,
  • Zheng Liu,
  • Zheng Liu,
  • Dan Liu,
  • Dan Liu,
  • Dan Liu,
  • Dan Liu,
  • Dan Liu,
  • Xiuli Wang,
  • Yuqing Shi,
  • Yuqing Shi,
  • Yuqing Shi,
  • Yuqing Shi,
  • Yuqing Shi,
  • Zhe Chen,
  • Zhe Chen,
  • Zhe Chen,
  • Zhe Chen,
  • Zhe Chen,
  • Xiao Cheng,
  • Xiao Cheng,
  • Xiao Cheng,
  • Xiao Cheng,
  • Bingchen Lang,
  • Bingchen Lang,
  • Bingchen Lang,
  • Bingchen Lang,
  • Hailong Li,
  • Hailong Li,
  • Hailong Li,
  • Hailong Li,
  • Linan Zeng,
  • Linan Zeng,
  • Linan Zeng,
  • Linan Zeng,
  • Yong Tang,
  • Shaoyang Zhao,
  • Yongmu Jiang,
  • Imti Choonara,
  • Lingli Zhang,
  • Lingli Zhang,
  • Lingli Zhang,
  • Lingli Zhang,
  • Lingli Zhang

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1149838
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 11

Abstract

Read online

BackgroundEssential medicines are the backbone of healthcare and meet the priority healthcare needs of the population. However, approximately one-third of the global population does not have access to essential medicines. Although China formulated essential medicine policies in 2009, the progress of availability of essential medicines and regional variations remains unknown. Therefore, this study was conducted to evaluate the availability of essential medicines, their progress, and regional distribution in China in the last decade.MethodsWe searched eight databases from their inception to February 2022, relevant websites, and reference lists of included studies. Two reviewers selected studies, extracted data, and evaluated the risk of bias independently. Meta-analyses were performed to quantify the availability of essential medicines, their progress, and regional distribution.ResultsOverall 36 cross-sectional studies conducted from 2009 to 2019 were included, with regional data for 14 provinces. The availability of essential medicines in 2015–2019 [28.1%, 95% confidence interval (CI): 26.4–29.9%] was similar to that in 2009–2014 (29.4%, 95% CI: 27.5–31.3%); lower in the Western region (19.8%, 95% CI: 18.1–21.5%) than Eastern (33.8%, 95% CI: 31.6–36.1%) and Central region (34.5%, 95% CI: 30.6–38.5%); very low for 8 Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) categories (57.1%), and low for 5 categories (35.7%) among all ATC groups.ConclusionThe availability of essential medicines in China is low compared with the World Health Organization goal, has not changed much in the last decade, is unequal across regions, and lacks data for half of provinces. For policy-making, the monitoring system of the availability of essential medicines is to be strengthened to enable long-term surveillance, especially in provinces where the data has been missing. Meanwhile, Joint efforts from all stakeholders are warranted to improve the availability of essential medicines in China toward the universal health coverage target.Systematic review registrationhttps://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/display_record.php?RecordID=315267, identifier: PROSPERO CRD42022315267.

Keywords