1
|
Cao Z, Wang L, Ma R, Hu Y, Bao B, Liu X, Li M, Wang X, Liu P, Li X. Access to essential and innovative anti-cancer medicines: a longitudinal study in Nanjing, China. BMC Health Serv Res 2024; 24:802. [PMID: 38992687 PMCID: PMC11242009 DOI: 10.1186/s12913-024-11285-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2023] [Accepted: 07/08/2024] [Indexed: 07/13/2024] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE To evaluate the availability, cost, affordability of anti-cancer medicines in Nanjing, Jiangsu. METHODS A longitudinal tracking investigation study was performed to collect information about 24 essential anti-cancer medicines (EAMs) and 17 innovative anti-cancer medicines (IAMs) in 26 healthcare institutions in Nanjing from 2016 to 2020. The availability, cost, drug utilization and affordability of EAMs and IAMs were investigated. RESULTS The availability of EAMs showed no significant changes in Nanjing, but the availability of IAMs showed a significant increase in 2018 and 2019 and tended to stabilize in 2020. For EAMs, the DDDc(Defined Daily Dose cost) of LPGs (Lowest-Priced Generics) showed no significant changes, and the DDDc of OBs (Originator Brands) and IAMs significantly decreased. The DDDs(Defined Daily Doses) of EAMs (LPGs) showed a decreasing trend since 2016 and rose again in 2019. Overall, the DDDs of EAMs (LPGs) decreased by 25.18% between 2016 and 2020, but the proportion selected for clinical treatment remained at 67.35% in 2020. The DDDs of EAMs (OBs) and IAMs both showed an increasing trend year by year, with a proportional increase of 207.72% and 652.68%, respectively; but the proportion selected for clinical treatment was only 16.09% and 16.56% respectively in 2020. EAMs (LPGs) had good affordability for urban residents but poor affordability for rural residents; the affordability of EAMs (OBs) and IAMs was poor for both urban and rural residents. CONCLUSIONS There were no significant changes in the availability and cost of EAMs (LPGs), whose lower prices showed better affordability. Although their relative change in drug utilization showed a decreasing trend, they still dominated clinical treatment. Driven by the national drug price negotiation (NDPN) policy, the availability of IAMs was on the rise. It is necessary to further develop and strengthen policies for essential medicines procurement assessment to improve the accessibility of EAMs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhaoliu Cao
- School of Pharmacy, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 211166, China
- Nanjing City Qixia District Hospital, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210046, China
| | - Lili Wang
- Nanjing City Qixia District Hospital, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210046, China
| | - Rui Ma
- School of Pharmacy, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 211166, China
| | - Yun Hu
- Essential Medicine Division of Qixia District Health Commission of Nanjing City, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210046, China
| | - Baiyi Bao
- School of Pharmacy, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 211166, China
| | - Xiaohua Liu
- Department of Pharmacy, Jiangsu Province Hospital, the First Affiliated Hospital with Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210029, China
| | - Mengyuan Li
- Department of Pharmacy, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210011, China
| | - Xiao Wang
- School of Health Policy and Management, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 211166, China
| | - Pingyu Liu
- Department of Pharmacy, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210011, China.
| | - Xin Li
- School of Pharmacy, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 211166, China.
- School of Health Policy and Management, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 211166, China.
- Center for Global Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 211166, China.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Qin Z, He M, Shen H, Liu S, Xu S, Chen L. The influence of the national drug price negotiation policy reform on the medical expenses of patients in Xuzhou City: an interrupted time series analysis. Front Public Health 2024; 12:1381786. [PMID: 38903594 PMCID: PMC11188421 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1381786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2024] [Accepted: 05/24/2024] [Indexed: 06/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Background To reduce the burden of patients' medical care, the Xuzhou Municipal Government has initiated an exploratory study on the supply model and categorized management of nationally negotiated drugs. This study aims to understand the extent to which Xuzhou's 2021 reform of the National Drug Price Negotiation (NDPN) policy has had a positive impact on the healthcare costs of individuals with different types of health insurance. Methods The Interrupted Time Series Analysis method was adopted, and the changes in average medical expenses per patient, average medical insurance payment cost per patient and actual reimbursement ratio were investigated by using the data of single-drug payments in Xuzhou from October 2020 to October 2022. Results Following the implementation of the policy, there was a significant decrease in the average medical expenses per patient of national drug negotiation in Xuzhou, with a reduction of 62.42 yuan per month (p < 0.001). Additionally, the average medical insurance payment cost per patient decreased by 44.13 yuan per month (p = 0.01). Furthermore, the average medical expenses per patient of urban and rural medical insurance participants decreased by 63.45 yuan (p < 0.001), and the average monthly medical insurance payment cost per patient decreased by 57.56 yuan (p < 0.04). However, the mean total medical expenditures for individuals enrolled in employee medical insurance decreased by 63.41 yuan per month (p < 0.001), whereas the monthly decrease was 22.11 yuan per month (p = 0.21). On the other hand, there was no discernible change in the actual reimbursement ratio. Conclusion After the adoption of the NDPN policy, a noticeable decline has been observed in the average medical expenses per patient and the mean cost of the average medical insurance payment per patient, although to a limited extent. Notably, the reduction in employee medical insurance surpasses that of urban and rural medical insurance.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhaohui Qin
- Research Center for Medical and Health Emergency Rescue of The Second Clinical Medical School, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Meng He
- School of Management, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Huangying Shen
- School of Management, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Sha Liu
- School of Medicine and Health Management, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Shuo Xu
- School of Management, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | | |
Collapse
|
3
|
Li BX, Wang YQ, Yi YY, Zhou N, Lv ZX, Ma R, Li X, Yuan N. The usage and costs of national drug price-negotiated anticancer medicines in a first-tier city in Northeast China: a study based on health insurance data. BMC Public Health 2024; 24:1309. [PMID: 38745323 PMCID: PMC11092061 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-024-18820-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2024] [Accepted: 05/09/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The National Drug Price Negotiation (NDPN) policy has entered a normalisation stage, aiming to alleviate, to some extent, the disease-related and economic burdens experienced by cancer patients. This study analysed the use and subsequent burden of anticancer medicines among cancer patients in a first-tier city in northeast China. METHODS We assessed the usage of 64 negotiated anticancer medicines using the data on the actual drug deployment situation, the frequency of medical insurance claims and actual medication costs. The affordability of these medicines was measured using the catastrophic health expenditure (CHE) incidence and intensity of occurrence. Finally, we used the defined daily doses (DDDs) and defined daily doses cost (DDDc) as indicators to evaluate the actual use of these medicines in the region. RESULTS During the study period, 63 of the 64 medicines were readily available. From the perspective of drug usage, the frequency of medical insurance claims for negotiated anticancer medicines and medication costs showed an increasing trend from 2018 to 2021. Cancer patients typically sought medical treatment at tertiary hospitals and purchased medicines at community pharmacies. The overall quantity and cost of medications for patients covered by the Urban Employee Basic Medical Insurance (UEBMI) were five times higher than those covered by the Urban and Rural Resident Medical Insurance (URRMI). The frequency of medical insurance claims and medication costs were highest for lung and breast cancer patients. Furthermore, from 2018 to 2021, CHE incidence showed a decreasing trend (2.85-1.60%) under urban patients' payment capability level, but an increasing trend (11.94%-18.42) under rural patients' payment capability level. The average occurrence intensities for urban (0.55-1.26 times) and rural (1.27-1.74 times) patients showed an increasing trend. From the perspective of drug utilisation, the overall DDD of negotiated anticancer medicines showed an increasing trend, while the DDDc exhibited a decreasing trend. CONCLUSION This study demonstrates that access to drugs for urban cancer patients has improved. However, patients' medical behaviours are affected by some factors such as hospital level and type of medical insurance. In the future, the Chinese Department of Health Insurance Management should further improve its work in promoting the fairness of medical resource distribution and strengthen its supervision of the nation's health insurance funds.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bao-Xin Li
- School of Public Health, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Ya-Qun Wang
- School of Public Health, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Yuan-Yuan Yi
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Na Zhou
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Zi-Xuan Lv
- School of Public Health, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China
| | - Rui Ma
- School of Pharmacy, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xin Li
- School of Pharmacy, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.
| | - Ni Yuan
- School of Public Health, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, China.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Liu Y, Bao Y, Huang Y, Zhang M, Li X. How the National Health Insurance Coverage policy changed the use of lenvatinib for adult patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma: a retrospective cohort analysis with real world big data. Int J Equity Health 2023; 22:256. [PMID: 38082426 PMCID: PMC10712128 DOI: 10.1186/s12939-023-02052-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND To establish a long-term mechanism to control the cost burden of drugs, the Chinese government organized seven rounds of price negotiations for the national reimbursement drug list (NRDL) from 2016 to the end of 2022. The study aimed to evaluate the impact of the National Health Insurance Coverage (NHIC) policy on the use of lenvatinib as the first-line treatment for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) within a specific medical insurance region from the micro perspective of individual patient characteristics. METHODS The data of HCC patients that received lenvatinib from September 2019 to August 2022 was retrieved from the Medical and Health Big Data Center and longitudinally analyzed. Contingency table chi-square statistics and binary logistic regression analysis were used to compare the differences in the categorical variables. Interrupted time-series (ITS) regression analysis was performed to evaluate the changes in the utilization of lenvatinib over 36 months. Multiple linear regression was used to analyze the impact of receiving lenvatinib on the total hospitalization expenses of hospitalized patients with advanced HCC. RESULTS A total of 12,659 patients with advanced HCC were included in this study. The usage rate of lenvatinib increased from 6.19% to 15.28% over 36 months (P < 0.001). By controlling the other factors, consistent with this, the probability of patients with advanced HCC receiving lenvatinib increased by 2.72-fold after the implementation of the NHIC policy (OR = 2.720, 95% CI:2.396-3.088, P < 0.001). Older, residency in rural areas, lack of fixed income, treatment at hospitals below the tertiary level, and coverage by urban-rural residents' basic medical insurance (URRBMI) were the factors affecting the use of lenvatinib among patients with advanced HCC (P < 0.05). After the implementation of the NHIC policy, the total hospitalization expenses increased (Beta=-0.040, P < 0.001). However, compared to patients who received lenvatinib, the total hospitalization expenses were higher for those who did not receive the drug (US$5022.07 ± US$5488.70 vs. US$3701.63 ± US$4330.70, Beta = 0.062, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS The NHIC policy has significantly increased the utilization of lenvatinib. In addition, we speculate that establishing multi-level medical insurance systems for economically disadvantaged patients would be beneficial in improving the effectiveness of the NHIC policy in the real world.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yanyan Liu
- Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Clinical College of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
- School of Health Policy and Management, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yuwen Bao
- School of Health Policy and Management, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yaxin Huang
- School of Health Policy and Management, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Mengdie Zhang
- Department of Regulatory Science and Pharmacoeconomics, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xin Li
- School of Health Policy and Management, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.
- Department of Regulatory Science and Pharmacoeconomics, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.
- Center for Global Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.
- Nanjing Medical University, No.101 Longmian Avenue, Jiangning District, Nanjing, Jiangsu, P.R. China.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Lv X, Ren W, Ran S, Zhao Y, Zhang J, Chen J, Zhang N. Trends and prescribing patterns of oral anti-neoplastic drugs: a retrospective longitudinal study. Front Public Health 2023; 11:1294126. [PMID: 38074729 PMCID: PMC10701268 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1294126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2023] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Cancer as a global public health problem, imposes a heavy disease burden. With the rapid development of oral anti-neoplastic drugs, there has been a paradigm shift in the treatment of cancer from intravenous to oral administration. Objective This study was conducted to investigate the trends and prescribing patterns of oral anti-neoplastic drugs in an academic tertiary hospital in China. Methods A single-center and retrospective analysis was performed based on the prescriptions of outpatients treated with oral anti-neoplastic drugs from 2017 to 2022. Yearly prescriptions and expenditure were calculated according to their pharmacological classes, and trends were further analyzed. Defined daily doses (DDDs) and defined daily cost (DDC) of oral targeted anti-neoplastic drugs were also determined. Results Both the number of prescriptions and expenditure of oral anti-neoplastic drugs increased progressively. There was a significant upward trend in the number and proportion of prescriptions for the older adult group, male group, and patients with gynecologic/genitourinary and respiratory cancer. Hormonal therapy agents accounted for the highest proportion of prescriptions, and letrozole was initially the most frequently prescribed drug. The number of DDDs of total oral targeted anti-neoplastic drugs showed a continuously ascending trend, primarily driven by the usage of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) and BCR-ABL TKIs. Conclusion The prescriptions and expenditure of oral anti-neoplastic drugs, and the number of DDDs of oral targeted anti-neoplastic drugs all showed a progressively ascending trend. Further studies are needed to evaluate the long-term health and financial outcomes, and the factors influencing these prescribing patterns.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoqun Lv
- Department of Pharmacy, Jinshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Weifang Ren
- Department of Pharmacy, Jinshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Shan Ran
- Department of Pharmacy, Jinshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yuhan Zhao
- Department of Pharmacy, Jinshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jihong Zhang
- Research Center for Clinical Medicine, Jinshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jun Chen
- Department of Pharmacy, Jinshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ning Zhang
- Department of Pharmacy, Jinshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Wang Q, Liu S, Nie Z, Zhu Z, Fu Y, Zhang J, Wei X, Yang L, Wei X. The pan-Canadian Tiered Pricing Framework and Chinese National Volume-Based Procurement: A comparative study using Donabedian's structure-process-outcome framework. J Glob Health 2023; 13:04137. [PMID: 37947028 PMCID: PMC10636597 DOI: 10.7189/jogh.13.04137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Generic drugs have been seen as a potentially powerful way to alleviate the financial burden on patients and health care systems. Two strategies for achieving rational prices of generic drugs are tiered pricing framework and pooled purchasing power. We compare the pan-Canadian Tiered Pricing Framework (TPF) and the Chinese National Volume-Based Procurement (NVBP) as comparators to explore the similarities and differences between the two mechanisms and summarise lessons for other jurisdictions. Methods This comparative study applies Donabedian's structure-process-outcome framework to systematically analyse the macro contexts, procedures, and long- and short-term results of each pricing mechanism, and the interactions between them. Results Structure: TPF is an upstream initiative aimed at lowering the prices of generic drugs and increasing coverage and price consistency. NVBP is a downstream national initiative prioritised for reducing drug prices to achieve value-based purchasing. Process: By associating the number of manufacturers with price cuts, TPF leaves the choice to manufacturers to decide if they want to enter a specific market. In contrast, the Chinese government determines NVBP list and has the authority to choose manufacturer(s) with the lowest price(s). TPF provides clear price information to potential suppliers with unclear order quantity. The NVBP drug price is determined by tendering, while procurement volume is clear and massive. Outcome: The effectiveness of TPF and NVBP is similar, with both achieving a 53% price cut. Both TPF and NVBP experienced efficiency improvement since their establishment, with 98 and 86 drugs priced per year. By comparing 60 drugs covered by both programmes, the NVBP price is 57% of that of the TPF counterpart on average (1.1 to 301.6%), by purchase power parity. Conclusions The tiered pricing scheme is feasible in regions with a stable and mature pharmaceutical market, typically seen in high-income countries, while tendering is more workable in low- and middle-income countries where the pharmaceutical market is weak and unstable. Experience in the two countries shows that a coordinated pricing mechanism involves many piecemeal interactive problems, which a sophisticated system with a robust long-range plan may address better.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Quan Wang
- School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Brown School, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Siqi Liu
- Center of Health System and Policy, Institute of Medical Information & Library, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
- Institute of Health Policy, Management, and Evaluation (IHPME), University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Zhijie Nie
- School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Zheng Zhu
- School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Yaqun Fu
- School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Jiawei Zhang
- School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Xia Wei
- Department of Health Services Research and Policy, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, England, UK
| | - Li Yang
- School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaolin Wei
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Sun Z, Na X, Chu S. Impact of China's National Centralized Drug Procurement Policy on pharmaceutical enterprises' financial performance: a quasi-natural experimental study. Front Public Health 2023; 11:1227102. [PMID: 38026347 PMCID: PMC10654749 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1227102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2023] [Accepted: 10/06/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction In China, the interest relationship between pharmaceutical enterprises and medical institutions has harmed the healthy development of pharmaceutical enterprises. In November 2018, the National Centralized Drug Procurement (NCDP) policy was published. The NCDP policy severs the interest relationship and significantly impacts on pharmaceutical enterprises's financial performance. Methods Using the implementation of China's National Centralized Drug Procurement (NCDP) policy as a quasi-natural experiment, this study evaluated the impact of participation in the NCDP policy on pharmaceutical enterprises' financial performance. We developed a difference-in-difference model to estimate the change in financial performance after NCDP implementation, based on financial data on Chinese listed pharmaceutical enterprises. Results We found that the bid-winning enterprises' financial performance significantly improved after participating in NCDP. This may be related to lower costs, market share expansion, and increased research and development investment by the bid-winning enterprises. Discussion To further promote the high-quality development of pharmaceutical enterprises in China, the government should expand the variety of drugs on the NCDP list (NCDP drugs), while improving the drug patent protection system and the policies to support the bid-winning enterprises.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Shuzhen Chu
- School of International Pharmaceutical Business, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Ma H, Zhao T, Ma Y, Yuen JWM, Ka Yan H, Yung JYK, Lam KKW, Christensen M. Family caregivers' lived experience of caring for hospitalised patients with cancer during the COVID-19 lockdown: A descriptive phenomenological study. J Clin Nurs 2023; 32:7509-7518. [PMID: 37370254 DOI: 10.1111/jocn.16817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2023] [Revised: 06/08/2023] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023]
Abstract
AIMS This study aimed to capture and explore family caregivers' lived experience of caring for hospitalised patients with cancer during the lockdown. BACKGROUND The unprecedented lockdown episodes due to COVID-19 have brought significant changes in the hospital visiting policies and caregiving practices. As part of the precautionary measures for hospital visits, the bedside companion was restricted to one caregiver for patients with cancer in Shanghai hospitals. DESIGN This study adopted a descriptive phenomenological approach. METHODS Data were collected among 20 family caregivers recruited from the Oncology department of a tertiary hospital in Shanghai in May 2022, using purposive sampling method and followed by unstructured, open-ended interviews. Colaizzi's seven-step data analysis method was used to analyse the data to reveal the emergent themes and subthemes of the phenomenon. RESULTS Four themes were generated on family caregivers' lived experience of caring for hospitalised patients with cancer during the lockdown, including (1) Feeling scared for the patient; (2) Living a life feeling trapped under COVID-19 surveillance; (3) Feeling neglected and unseen; (4) Growing resilience and appreciation. CONCLUSIONS The lockdown exacerbated the burden of family caregivers when they cared for the hospitalised patients with cancer during the lockdown period. However, positive reframing of the lived experience facilitated their coping with the challenging situation. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE Findings from this study highlighted the potential proactive roles the healthcare providers could play in improving family caregivers' health and supporting them during and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic. REPORTING METHOD The study adhered to relevant EQUATOR guidelines; the study was reported according to the COREQ checklist. PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION Family caregivers of patients with cancer were involved in data collection and member-checking of the transcripts and interpretations of their experiences.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Haixia Ma
- School of Nursing and Health Studies, Hong Kong Metropolitan University, Ho Man Tin, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
| | - Tuan Zhao
- Department of Hepatobiliary Medicine, Third Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yajing Ma
- School of Public Policy and Management, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - John Wai-Man Yuen
- School of Nursing, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
| | - Ho Ka Yan
- School of Nursing, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
| | - Jolene Y K Yung
- School of Nursing, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
| | - Katherine Ka Wai Lam
- School of Nursing, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
| | - Martin Christensen
- School of Nursing, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
- The Interdisciplinary Centre for Qualitative Research, School of Nursing, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Ma Y, Peng J, Yao X, Feng L, Shi X, Jiang M. Access to anticancer medicines in public hospitals of Northwestern China. Front Public Health 2023; 11:1182617. [PMID: 37275477 PMCID: PMC10235455 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1182617] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2023] [Accepted: 04/28/2023] [Indexed: 06/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective We aimed to evaluate the accessibility of anticancer medicines in public hospitals of Shaanxi, a representative province of Northwestern China. Methods Thirty-one anticancer medicines were investigated in 146 designated public hospitals in 10 cities of Shaanxi Province. We used medicine procurement data from the Shaanxi Drug Centralized Purchasing Platform during 2019-2021. Primary outcomes included the availability, drug utilization, and affordability of anticancer medicines. Results The mean availability of 31 anticancer medicines increased significantly from 5.45% in 2019 to 14.72% in 2021. The mean availability of nationally negotiated medicines was significantly lower than that of Class B medicines (8.72% vs. 12.85%, p = 0.048), whilst the availability of injectable medicines was significantly greater than that of oral medicines (13.66% vs. 8.77%, p = 0.007). In 2019-2021, the annual mean amount purchased increased significantly from CNY 6.51 million to CNY 18.56 million (p = 0.007). The mean defined daily doses of 31 medicines significantly rose from 225.50 to 1019.50 (p = 0.008) whereas their defined daily drug cost significantly decreased from CNY 551.15 to CNY 404.50 (p < 0.001). The percentage of catastrophic health expenditure decreased from 71.0 to 51.65% and from 90.30 to 80.60% for urban and rural residents, respectively. The affordability of nationally negotiated medicines was significantly lower than that of Class B medicines (p = 0.032), and the affordability of injectable medicines had no significant difference compared to that of oral medicines (p = 0.124) for both urban and rural residents. Conclusion The accessibility of anticancer medicines improved dramatically in public hospitals of Northwestern China during the period 2019-2021.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yue Ma
- Department of Pharmacy Administration and Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
- Center for Drug Safety and Policy Research, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
- Shaanxi Center for Health Reform and Development Research, Xi’an, China
- Research Institute for Drug Safety and Monitoring, Institute of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Western China Science and Technology Innovation Harbor, Xi’an, China
| | - Jin Peng
- Department of Pharmacy Administration and Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
- Center for Drug Safety and Policy Research, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
- Shaanxi Center for Health Reform and Development Research, Xi’an, China
- Research Institute for Drug Safety and Monitoring, Institute of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Western China Science and Technology Innovation Harbor, Xi’an, China
| | - Xuelin Yao
- Department of Pharmacy Administration and Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
- Center for Drug Safety and Policy Research, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
- Shaanxi Center for Health Reform and Development Research, Xi’an, China
- Research Institute for Drug Safety and Monitoring, Institute of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Western China Science and Technology Innovation Harbor, Xi’an, China
| | - Liuxin Feng
- Department of Pharmacy, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
| | - Xinke Shi
- Health Science Center, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
| | - Minghuan Jiang
- Department of Pharmacy Administration and Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
- Center for Drug Safety and Policy Research, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, China
- Shaanxi Center for Health Reform and Development Research, Xi’an, China
- Research Institute for Drug Safety and Monitoring, Institute of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Western China Science and Technology Innovation Harbor, Xi’an, China
| |
Collapse
|