Impact of the National Centralized Drug Procurement Policy (4 + 7 policy) on the drug expenditures of patients treated in outpatient and emergency departments in a large tertiary level‐A hospital in China: A single centre, interrupted time series

Author(s):  
Tianwei Lan ◽  
Liying Guan ◽  
Xinyue Pang ◽  
Xin Li ◽  
Qian Yu
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ying Yang ◽  
Ruiwen Tong ◽  
Shicheng Yin ◽  
Lining Mao ◽  
Luxinyi Xu ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: On January 2019, Chinese government implemented the first round of the National Centralized Drug Procurement (NCDP) pilot of 25 drugs in 4 municipalities and 7 sub-provincial cities in mainland China, referred to as “4+7” policy. In the “4+7” policy, 7 antihypertensive drugs were included. This study was conducted to evaluate the impact of “4+7” policy on the use of policy-related antihypertensive drugs. Method: This study applied single-group Interrupted Time Series (ITS) design. We used drug purchasing data from the Centralized Drug Procurement Survey in Shenzhen 2019, covering 24 months from January 2018 to December 2019. Antihypertensive drugs related to “4+7” policy were selected as study samples, including 7 antihypertensive drugs in the “4+7” List and 17 antihypertensive drugs that have an alternative relationship with the “4+7” List drugs in clinical use. Purchase volume, expenditures, and daily costs were selected as outcome variables, and were measured using Defined Daily Doses (DDDs), Chinese Yuan (CNY), and Defined Daily Drug cost (DDDc), respectively. Segmented linear regression analysis was employed to examine the change of outcome variables before and after the policy intervention. Results: As of December 31, 2019, the completion rate of the agreed purchase volume of the 7 bid-winning antihypertensive drugs reached 173.42% in Shenzhen. After “4+7” policy, the DDDc of bid-winning antihypertensive drugs significantly decreased by 63.79% (-1.30 CNY, 95% CI= -1.43 to -1.18, p<0.001), while the DDDc of non-winning (0.28 CNY, 95% CI= 0.11 to 0.46, p<0.01) and alternative (0.14 CNY, 95% CI= 0.03 to 0.25, p<0.05) antihypertensive drugs increased markedly. The volume of bid-winning antihypertensive drugs significantly increased by 1311.76% (3.12 million DDD, 95% CI= 2.14 to 4.10, p<0.001). The overall costs of the seven “4+7” List antihypertensive drugs significantly declined by 101.34% (-5.96 million CNY, 95% CI= -7.87 to -4.04, p<0.001) after policy intervention, with an absolute reduction of 36.37 million CNY compared with the pre-“4+7” period. Conclusion: An overall satisfying implementation effect was observed in Shenzhen. A preliminary positive policy effect of price cut and cost-saving was observed in the antihypertensive drug category. However, the DDDc of non-winning and alternative drugs increased after policy intervention, suggesting that the price monitoring and drug use management regarding NCDP policy-related drugs should be strengthened. Keywords: National Centralized Drug Procurement (NCDP); "4+7"; volume-based procurement; antihypertensive drugs; China


BMJ Open ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
pp. e029646 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dawei Zhu ◽  
Xuefeng Shi ◽  
Stephen Nicholas ◽  
Qian Bai ◽  
Ping He

ObjectiveTo evaluate the 2017 implementation of China’s 2009 healthcare price reforms on Beijing’s secondary and tertiary traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) hospitals.DesignWe employed a panel-interrupted time-series model with hospital fixed effects to estimate the impact of the price reforms.SettingBeijing, April 2014 to April 2018.ParticipantsAll TCM hospitals in Beijing.Outcome measuresOur dependent variables comprised the monthly outpatient and inpatient revenues, the number of monthly outpatient visits and inpatient admissions, the average total expenditures per outpatient visit and per inpatient admission, the average drug expenditures (except herbal medicines) per outpatient visit and per inpatient admission and the average medical service expenditures per outpatient visit and per inpatient admission.ResultsIn tertiary hospitals, the price reforms led to significant reductions in the number of outpatient visits (23.1%), inpatients admission (4.6%) and drug expenditures (except herbal medicines) per inpatient admission (14.0%), and an instant raise in average total expenditure per outpatient (22.0%), medical service expenditures per outpatient visit (58.2%) and inpatient admission (19.0%). There was no significant association between the price reforms and the monthly outpatient and inpatient revenues. After the price reforms, the previous upward trend in medical service expenditures per outpatient visit rose more sharply (from 0.5% to 1.6%). In secondary hospitals, the price reforms decreased the level of drug expenditures (except herbal medicines) per outpatient visit (13.0%) and per inpatient admission (20.8%), but increased medical service expenditures per inpatient admission by 19.0%.ConclusionThe Beijing price reforms adjusted the cost structures in secondary and tertiary TCM hospitals without negatively impacting the operation of the hospitals, and through the increased hierarchical medical service fee, shifted patient choices away from tertiary to other health facilities, especially for patients with minor illnesses.


BMJ Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. e037034
Author(s):  
Kangkang Yan ◽  
Caijun Yang ◽  
Hongli Zhang ◽  
Dan Ye ◽  
Shengyuan Liu ◽  
...  

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to measure the impact of zero-mark-up drug policy (ZMDP) on drug-related expenditures and use in urban hospitals.DesignThis was a retrospective observational study of trends in drug expenses and use in the context of the ZMDP using an interrupted time series analysis.SettingTwelve hospitals (three tertiary hospitals and nine secondary hospitals) in Xi’an, which is the capital of Shaanxi Province in Western China.Data and participantsThe prescription information for all outpatients and inpatients in the study hospitals from January 2016 to April 2018 was used in this study.InterventionsThe Chinese government announced the policy intervention measure of the ZMDP, which was implemented in all public hospitals as of 1 April 2017.Primary measuresMonthly drug expenditures, monthly medical expenditures, the percentage of drug expenditures among total medical expenditures, the average outpatient drug expenditure per visit, the percentage of prescriptions that include an injection and the percentage of prescriptions that include an antibiotic.ResultsMonthly total medical expenses increased in both tertiary and secondary hospitals after the ZMDP was implemented. In tertiary hospitals, the average outpatient drug expenditures per visit showed a slow decreasing trend before the intervention and an increasing trend after the intervention, with statistically significant changes in both the level (p<0.001) and the trend (p=0.02). Secondary hospitals showed a slow increasing trend both before and after the policy implementation, with no significant change in the trend (p=0.205). The proportion of prescriptions, including injections, was over 20% in secondary hospitals and less than 20% in tertiary hospitals, with no significant changes to this indicator observed after implementation of ZMDP.ConclusionsThe effect of the ZMDP on drug-related expenditures and use in Chinese public hospitals was not substantially evident. Future pharmaceutical reform measures should give more consideration to physician prescription behaviours.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ying Yang ◽  
Ruiwen Tong ◽  
Shicheng Yin ◽  
Lining Mao ◽  
Luxinyi Xu ◽  
...  

Abstract Background In 2019, Chinese government launched a nationwide volume-based drug procurement aiming at reducing drug prices and saving drug costs through economies of scale, which aroused widespread attention. The first round of the policy pilot was implemented in 4 municipalities and 7 sub-provincial cities, referred to as “4 + 7” policy. In the “4 + 7” policy, 7 antihypertensive drugs were included. This study was conducted to evaluate the impact of “4 + 7” policy on the use of policy-related antihypertensive drugs. Method This study applied single-group Interrupted Time Series (ITS) design. We used drug purchasing data from the Centralized Drug Procurement Survey in Shenzhen 2019, covering 24 months from January 2018 to December 2019. Antihypertensive drugs related to “4 + 7” policy were selected as study samples, including 7 drugs in the “4 + 7” List and 17 alternative drugs. Alternative drugs refer to antihypertensive drugs that have an alternative relationship with “4 + 7” List drugs in clinical use and have not yet been covered by the policy. “4 + 7” List drugs were then divided into bid-winning and bid-non-winning products according to the bidding results. Purchase volume, expenditures, and daily costs were selected as outcome variables, and were measured using Defined Daily Doses (DDDs), Chinese Yuan (CNY), and Defined Daily Drug cost (DDDc). Results After “4 + 7” policy intervention, the procurement volume of bid-winning antihypertensive drugs significantly increased (3.12 million DDD, 95 % CI = 2.14 to 4.10, p < 0.001), while the volume of non-winning drugs decreased (-2.33 million DDD, 95 % CI= -2.83 to -1.82, p < 0.01). The use proportion of bid-winning antihypertensive drugs increased from 12.31 to 87.74 % after policy intervention. The overall costs of the seven “4 + 7” List antihypertensive drugs significantly declined (-5.96 million CNY, 95 % CI= -7.87 to -4.04, p < 0.001) after policy intervention, with an absolute reduction of 36.37 million CNY compared with the pre-“4 + 7” period. The DDDc of bid-winning antihypertensive drugs significantly decreased (-1.30 CNY, 95 % CI= -1.43 to -1.18, p < 0.001), while the DDDc of non-winning (0.28 CNY, 95 % CI = 0.11 to 0.46, p < 0.01) and alternative (0.14 CNY, 95 % CI = 0.03 to 0.25, p < 0.05) antihypertensive drugs increased markedly. Conclusions The implementation of “4 + 7” policy promoted the drug use hypertensive patients gradually concentrated on the quality-guaranteed bid-winning drugs, which might be conducive to improve the overall quality level of drug use of Chinese hypertensive patients. Besides, a preliminary positive policy effect of price cut and cost-saving was observed in the antihypertensive drug category. In the future, price monitoring and drug use management regarding policy-related drugs should also be strengthened.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ying Yang ◽  
Lei Chen ◽  
Xinfeng Ke ◽  
Zongfu Mao ◽  
Bo Zheng

Abstract Background In 2019, Chinese government implemented volume-based procurement of 25 drugs in 4 municipalities and 7 sub-provincial cities, i.e. “4 + 7” policy. Competitive bidding was conducted by the government based on the annual agreed procurement volume submitted by each public medical institution in pilot cities. Pilot cities were required to implement bid winning results in March 2019 and the use volume of bid winning products was examined to ensure the completion of agreed procurement volume. In the policy, an oral antibiotic (cefuroxime) was included. Given the current condition of the irrational use of antibiotics in China, this study aims to evaluate the impact of “4 + 7” policy on the use of policy-related antibiotics. Methods This study used drug purchase data from the Centralized Drug Procurement Survey in Shenzhen 2019, covering 24 months from January 2018 to December 2019. Oral antibiotic drugs related to “4 + 7” policy were selected as study samples, including cefuroxime and 12 antibiotic drugs that have an alternative relationship with cefuroxime in clinical use. Purchase volume and expenditures were selected as outcome variables, and were measured using Defined Daily Doses (DDDs) and Chinese yuan, respectively. Segmented linear regression analysis with interrupted time series was adopted to examine the effect of “4 + 7” policy. Results After the implementation of “4 + 7” policy, the overall volume of cefuroxime and its alternative drugs increased from 9.47 million DDDs to 13.42 million DDDs, with an increase of 41.8 %. The results of segmented linear regression showed that the volume of cefuroxime significantly increased 161.16 thousand DDDs after “4 + 7” policy (95 % CI: 59.43 to 262.90, p-value = 0.004). The volume of alternative drugs significantly increased 273.65 thousand DDDs (95 % CI: 90.17 to 457.12, p-value = 0.006). The overall “4 + 7” policy-related antibiotics significantly increased 436.31 thousand DDDs (95 % CI: 190.81 to 681.81, p-value = 0.001) after “4 + 7” policy. Conclusions This study provides evidence that the implementation of “4 + 7” volume-based procurement policy was associated with significant increases in the volume of policy-related antibiotic drugs. The increase in antibiotic use after the policy needs special attention and vigilance.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ni Wang ◽  
Ying Yang ◽  
Luxinyi Xu ◽  
Zongfu Mao ◽  
Dan Cui

Abstract Background The Chinese government implemented the first round of National Centralized Drug Procurement (NCDP) pilot (so-called “4 + 7” policy) in mainland China in 2019. This study aims to examine the impact of “4 + 7” policy on the price of policy-related drugs. Methods This study used drug purchasing order data from the Centralized Drug Procurement Survey in Shenzhen 2019, covering 24 months from January 2018 to December 2019. “4 + 7” policy-related drugs were selected as study samples, including 25 drugs in the “4 + 7” procurement list and 57 alternative drugs that have an alternative relationship with “4 + 7” List drugs in clinical use. “4 + 7” List drugs were then divided into bid-winning and bid-non-winning products according to the bidding results. Single-group Interruption Time Series (ITS) analysis was adopted to examine the change of Drug Price Index (DPI) for policy-related drugs. Results The ITS analysis showed that the DPI of winning (− 0.183 per month, p < 0.0001) and non-winning (− 0.034 per month, p = 0.046) products significantly decreased after the implementation of “4 + 7” policy. No significant difference was found for the immediate change of DPI for alternative drugs (p = 0.537), while a significant decrease in change trend was detected in the post-“4 + 7” policy period (− 0.003 per month, p = 0.014). The DPI of the overall policy-related drugs significantly decreased (− 0.261 per month, p < 0.0001) after “4 + 7” policy. Conclusions These findings indicate that the price behavior of pharmaceutical enterprises changed under NCDP policy, while the price linkage effect is still limited. It is necessary to further expand the scope of centralized purchased drugs and strengthen the monitoring of related drugs regarding price change and consumption structure.


Author(s):  
Ni Wang ◽  
Ying Yang ◽  
Luxinyi Xu ◽  
Zongfu Mao ◽  
Dan Cui

In 2019, Chinese government implemented the first round of National Centralized Drug Procurement (NCDP) pilot (so-called "4+7" policy) in mainland China, achieved a prominent price reduction of 52% on average for 25 bidding winning products. Under cross-price elasticity theory, the price behavior of pharmaceutical enterprises for policy-related drugs might change. This study used drug purchasing data from the Centralized Drug Procurement Survey in Shenzhen 2019, and applied single-group Interruption Time Series (ITS) design to examine the impact of "4+7" policy on the drug price index (DPI) of policy-related drugs. The ITS analysis showed that the DPI of winning (-0.183 per month, p&amp;lt;0.0001) and non-winning (-0.034 per month, p=0.046) products significantly decreased after the implementation of "4+7" policy. No significant difference was found for the immediate change of DPI for alternative drugs (p=0.537), while a significant decrease in change trend was detected in the post-"4+7" policy period (-0.003 per month, p=0.014). The DPI of the overall policy-related drugs significantly decreased (-0.261 per month, p&amp;lt;0.0001) after "4+7" policy. These findings indicate that the price behavior of pharmaceutical enterprises changed under NCDP policy, while the price linkage effect is still limited. It is necessary to further expand the scope of centralized purchased drugs and strengthen the monitoring of related drugs regarding price change and consumption structure.


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