Objective To sort out the policies related to rare diseases in China, analyze and summarize the focus and potential problems of relevant policy texts, and provide decision-making references for the subsequent formulation and improvement of policies in the field of rare diseases in China. Methods We searched for relevant policy documents in the field of rare diseases at the national level from 2018 to 2023, constructed a three-dimensional analysis framework based on content analysis of “policy tool-stakeholder-policy strength” in the field of rare diseases in China, and conducted cross-analysis between policy tools, stakeholders, and policy strength. Results Finally, 39 policy texts were included. There were 112 policy tool dimension codes, with environment-based, supply-based, and demand-based tools accounting for 62.5%, 30.36%, and 7.14%, respectively. There were 229 stakeholder dimension codes, including 42.79% for government departments, 19.65% for medical institutions, 19.65% for corporate units, and 17.90% for patients and their families. The average score for policy strength was 2.2 points. Cross-analysis showed that government departments had the highest proportion in the dimensions of supply-based, environment-based and demand-based tools (45.76%, 43.45%, 32.00%, respectively). The policy strength of environmental tools was the strongest (124 points). The policy strength of government departments was the strongest (78 points). Conclusions There is a certain imbalance in the design and configuration of rare disease policy tools in China, and there is uneven distribution of rare disease policies among stakeholders. Although the overall effectiveness of policies in the field of rare diseases is showing a positive growth trend, there may be a mismatch between policy tools, stakeholders, and policy strength.
Objective To analyse the content and structure of the health management policy text for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in China, and to provide a reference for the optimization and improvement of subsequent relevant policies. Methods We searched for relevant policy documents on COPD health management at the national level from January 2017 to December 2023, constructed a two-dimensional analysis framework for policy tools and chronic disease health management processes, coded and classified policy texts, and used content analysis method to analyze policy texts. Results Twenty-four policy texts were included. There were 183 codes for policy tool dimension, with supply based, environmental based, and demand based tools accounting for 43.72%, 47.54%, and 8.74%, respectively. There were 124 codes for the dimension of health management processes, with health information collection and management accounting for 12.10%, risk prediction accounting for 14.52%, intervention and treatment accounting for 66.13%, and follow-up and effectiveness evaluation accounting for 7.26%. Conclusions At present, the proportion of policy tools related to the management of COPD in China needs to be dynamically adjusted. Environmental tools should be appropriately reduced, the internal structure of supply tools should be optimized, the driving effect of demand tools should be comprehensively enhanced, the coupling of COPD health management processes should be strengthened, and the relevant policy system and overall quality should be continuously improved.
ObjectiveTo learn the development and implementation of orphan drug policies, in order to provide decision-making references for the establishment of orphan drug policy according with China's national conditions. MethodsWe electronically searched databases including CBM, CNKI, VIP, EMbase, PubMed, Web of Knowledge, National Library of Medicine, CRD database, The Campbell Library, The Cochrane Library and the drug administration websites of USA, Canada, UK, Ireland, the Netherlands, Germany, Spain, France, Australia, New Zealand, China, India, South Korea, Japan, and South Africa to collect studies about orphan drug policy. The search date was up to February 2014. Two reviewers independently screened literature, and extracted data. Then, all included orphan drug policies were summarized and a comparative analysis was performed. ResultsA total of 110 studies were included. USA, Singapore, Japan, Australia, European Union, Chinese Taiwan and South Korea had introduced orphan drugs incentive policies. South Africa, India, Canada, New Zealand and Chinese Hongkong were producing orphan drugs policy frameworks. The main items of orphan drug policy included marketing exclusivity, tax incentives, technical assistance, grant funding, expedite approval process and prolong re-evaluated time. ConclusionIn mainland China, there is no orphan disease management policy. China should establish specific organization and working procedures, promote orphan drug policy related legislative work, clarify the definition and prevalence of orphan diseases, provide incentive mechanism to promote the research and development of orphan drugs, provide enterprises to develop compensation mechanism to safeguard the rights and interests of patients, as well as establish patients register network platform to track the processes of the diseases.
Objectives To establish a course evaluation model for overseas medical students in West China Medical School of Sichuan University, to identify problems in teaching and to solve problems based on evidence so as to futher improve the quality of teaching. Methods We conducted a preliminary course evaluation to determine the limitations of our evaluation methods and to convey our intention to related stakeholders. Firstly, we identified problems in teaching according to the feedback from our students using a questionnaire. Secondly, we proposed an initial list of possible solutions to these problems based on evidence from literature searching and discussion within the Department of Teaching Affairs. We submitted the initial list to the administrative departments, teaching departments (teachers) and students to identify applicable solutions through two rounds of formal consensus. Their attitudes to this procedure of evaluation and decision-making were collected. Finally, incentives were given out by administrative departments and teaching departments to facilitate the implementation of applicable solutions. Results Teachers’ English ability and the didactic teaching methods were the most concerned problems. In addition, some semesters and courses were not well arranged and there was not enough practice time. An initial list of 14 items was submitted to teaching departments and students. They all agreed with the procedure of evaluation and decision-making. We also found that some aspects of the evaluation methods and styles need to be improved. An additional paper would report further results. Conclusion This preliminary evaluation was helpful for improving teaching and formal evaluation in the future. We need to strengthen the English language skills of younger faculty and gradually adopt a model of student-centered and enquiry-based teaching. This process of evaluation and improvement should be applied as a long-term policy and an evidence-based research group should be established to work together with our quality assurance unit.
Objective To understand the basis and status of setting up the dispensing fee at home and abroad, and to ascertain the scope of dispensing service, so as to offer references to the setting up and implement of dispensing fee in China. Methods According to the evidence-based principle, the descriptive method was adopted to demonstrate the basis of setting up the dispensing fee. The different definition, payment mode and standard were compared at home and abroad. Results Separation of prescribing and dispensing was the basis of setting up the dispensing fee. In western countries, the charge of dispensing fee was almost at the same level, though its definition and scope were different among countries. It was more reasonable to determine the level of dispensing fee according to the visiting frequency, compared with the price, the number and the type of drugs in the prescription. Conclusion China’s calculation of dispensing fee should be based on the prescription fee, the cost of drug administration and store. Dispensing fee should be implemented in the pilot hospitals firstly. Institutions providing primary health care services (rural health clinics, community health service centers etc) which follow a policy of “separating revenue from expenditures” may not adopt the dispensing fee temporarily. In urban hospitals, it is advisable to promote the separation of prescribing and dispensing gradually and bring pharmacists to provide prescription auditing, dispensing and advisory services. For retail pharmacies, pharmacists should be gradually fully staffed as one of the necessary conditions for operating. Performance evaluation of pharmacist’s services and pharmacy administration also should be developed.
As the implementation of the high-quality development policy of public hospitals is faced with the problems of diversified environment and the coordination of execution of complex actors, the network structure has changed from the closed resistance type to the open competition type. At present, China’s high-quality development policy of public hospitals needs to improve the policy system and refine the top-level design; strengthen the executive power of network entities and innovate the joint governance mechanism; optimize the structure of policy tools to improve the resilience and flexibility of the network; implement the performance evaluation mechanism and strengthen supervision. This article is based on policy network theory and provides an in-depth analysis of the current high-quality development policy texts for public hospitals in China, with the aim of providing suggestions for policy development
Evidence-informed decision making is one of the most common, objective and important health policy research methods used by policy makers. Its purpose is to promote the application and dissemination of research knowledge on health policy and systems to change traditional and subjective models of health policy making in order to improve national and regional health systems. Three elements will influence the effectiveness of health policy making:research evidence, available health resources and the value of policy formulation. This paper introduces some pragmatic evidence-based approaches, especially systematic reviews, priority setting and a combined approach matrix (CAM). Systematic reviews have a b impact on the decision process for policy makers. We hope that the application and development of evidence-informed methods will increase in China’s health policy research.
Objectives To analyze the development and implementation of the national drug policy in order to provide decision-making for the establishment of the Chinese national drug policy. Methods Nineteen electronic databases, the WHO, the World Bank, and governmental websites were included in this study. A pre-designed data extraction form was used to collect information. The data were analyzed and described by a pre-designed analytic framework. Result A total of 182 studies were included in this review. The main points of common concern in the national drug policy were: drug regulation and quality assurance, rational use of drugs, drug supply, the selection of essential drugs, human resource development and training, traditional medicine, drug financing and affordability, drug research, monitoring and assessment of the nation drug policy, technical cooperation, and the national pharmaceutical industry. The selection of essential drugs, quality assurance, supply, pricing, and supply of traditional medicine were gradually carried out in China. Pharmaceutical research, monitoring and evaluation, as well as the development of pharmaceutical industry and technical cooperation within it should be further strengthened. Conclusion China should establish related organizations and working procedures; speed up the implementation of the legislation of national drug policy; integrate the mechanism of essential drugs selection and supply system; regulate the order of medicine production and regulation; establish scientific and reasonable pricing mechanisms for drugs and assessment systems; strengthen the monitoring and evaluation of national drug policy and update and improve the national drug policy.
Health insurance system has been proved to be an effective way to promote the quality of health service in many countries. However, how to control health expenditure under health insurance system remains a problem to be resolved. Some developed countries like UK, Canada and Sweden linked their health technology assessment results with decision making and health insurance management, and made prominent achievements in both expenditure control and quality improvement. China is carrying out its health system reform and running a new health insurance project. Using the experiences of other countries is undoubtedly of great importance in developing and managing our health insurance system.
Objective To analyze the current research status, hotspots and development trends in the field of evidence-based health policy briefs at home and abroad. Methods Computer searches of Web of Science Core Collection and CNKI databases for studies related to evidence-based health policy briefs were conducted, and the timeframe of the searches was from the establishment of the databases to August 6, 2024. Charticular, VOSviewer and CiteSpace software were used to visualize and analyze the countries, institutions, journals, authors and keywords of the included literature. Results A total of 145 relevant studies were included, of which 141 were in English and 4 were in Chinese. The number of articles in English showed an overall increasing trend; the country with the largest number of articles was the United States; the organization with the largest number of articles was the World Health Organization; the journal with the largest number of articles was Frontiers in Public Health; and the hot keywords in recent years focused on the food and nutritional safety system, cardiovascular disease, obesity, impact, and public health policy. The research related to "healthcare" and "knowledge translation" is expected to become a frontier hotspot. The number of Chinese studies was relatively small, and the research content involved policy briefs and policy brief methodology in the field of public health. Conclusion Future research may focus on policy briefs on health care, food and nutrition, cardiovascular disease, obesity and other health issues, their impact and the use of policy briefs in the formulation of public health policies. Currently, there is a significant difference between domestic and foreign research in the field of evidence-based health policy briefs, foreign research has tended to mature, while the domestic is still in the embryonic stage, there is an urgent need to enrich the methodological system, enrich the content of the study, and in the future, we can learn from the advanced experience of foreign countries and integrate multidisciplinary research methods, in order to promote the improvement and sustainable development of the field of evidence-based health policy briefs in China.