Asian Journal Of Social Pharmacy

Abstract: Objective To evaluate the status of essential medicines used in community health institutions in Beijing from 2 perspectives: essential medicine storage and the problems in the use of essential medicines, and to raise some suggestions. Methods Survey methods was applied to study the types of essential medicines in community health institutions, their average expenses, the storage status and existing problems in the use of essential medicines. Results and Conclusion Community health institutions are storing about 377 types of essential medicines, covering 53.9% of the essential medicines list in Beijing, and averagely 61.6% of the total essential medicines list. The average drug expenses per outpatient increased year by year from 2009 to 2013. Both the types and supply of essential medicines can’t meet the clinical need of patients at community health centers. First-aid and low-priced essential medicines are out of stock. Some patients are doubtful about the brands and quality of essential medicines. It is suggested that more commonlyused drugs for chronic diseases should be added to the essential medicines directory and drug centralized bidding mechanism should be improved as well. Coordinated efforts and support from physicians and pharmacists in large hospitals would be needed. With the help of good policy planning, the existing problems will be solved in essential medicines use.

Key words: essential medicine, community health institution, status of use, analysis