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.
Objective To re-estimate price elasticity of different income groups’ demand for cigarette in terms of the lastest national tobacco consumption data and provide policy-makers with evidence to make decision on public policy of tobacco control. Methods A total of 16 056 adults of different income were surveyed in 27 provinces in 2002 and the data analyzed by using two-part model (logistic and log-linear model). Results We found that the demand elasticities were -0.589, -0.234, -0.017 and 0.247 for the poor group, low income group, middle income group and high income group, respectively. Conclusions Increasing tobacco tax will result in decreasing more cigarette consumption of lower income groups than higher groups, bearing more taxation of higher income groups than lower income groups, therefore tobacco taxation is not regressive.
Objective To compare the newest essential medicine lists (EMLs) of China and the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2009, so as to provide the evidence for the selection, adjustment and implementation of the newest national EML of China. Methods Differences in the procedures of selection, implementation and the categories as well as the number of medicines in 2009 EMLs of the WHO and China were compared by descriptive analysis. Result Principles and procedures of selecting and updating EML of China were based on those of the WHO EML. However, the transparency of procedures, methods of selection, and evidence of efficacy, safety, cost-effectiveness and suitability were not enough. Essential medicines of the WHO were categorized by the Anatomical-Therapeutic-Chemical (ATC) classification system, while those of China were classified by clinical pharmacology. Twenty-one identical categories of the first class were found in the two lists. There were 8 and 3 unique categories in the WHO EML and China EML, respectively. A total of 358 and 255 medicines (including medicines in its explanation) were included in the EMLs of the WHO and China, respectively, with 133 identical medicines as well as 206 and 108 unique medicines. There were 51 antiinfective medicines in China EML, accounting for half of the WHO EML. Forty medicines were the same in both lists, and 11 and 60 anti-infective medicines were unique in EMLs of China and the WHO, except for 40 identical medicines. Among them, 22 and 31 antibacterials were included in the lists of the WHO and China with 17 identical medicines. Antifungal, antituberculosis and antiviral medicines in China EML were fewer than those in the WHO EML. The numbers of the identical medicines acting on the respiratory, digestive, and nervous systems and hormones in the both lists were 1, 7, 9, and 17, respectively, while the unique ones in China EML were 6, 12, 7, and 14, respectively. However, most of them were selected without adequate evidence in efficacy and safety. The medicines acting on cardiovascular system were 19 and 29 in both lists with 14 identical medicines. Some antihypertensive and antiarrhythmic medicines were included in China EML with similar mechanism, whereas some of them were excluded by the EML. Conclusion The total numbers of both EMLs are close to each other with half of the identical medicines. The selection of China EML mostly meets the needs of disease burden in China. However, the transparency of selection and evidence are not enough. We suggest that health authorities should cooperate with other stakeholders to promote the transparency of selection, to enhance the capacity of producing high-quality evidence, to develop related technical documents and guidelines, and to disseminate and monitor the implementation of EML.
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
Objective To systematically analyze the research landscape of China’s rehabilitation industry, identify core contradictions and evolutionary pathways, and provide evidence for policy optimization and academic innovation. Methods Literature published up to December 31, 2024 was retrieved from China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang, and Chongqing VIP databases using rehabilitation industry as the subject term. Bibliometric methods such as keyword clustering, strategic coordinate analysis, temporal evolution (CiteSpace and R language) were employed to dissect research patterns, hotspot evolution, and innovation bottlenecks of the rehabilitation industry. Results Finally, 183 articles were included for analysis. China’s rehabilitation research exhibits a policy-driven, fragmented pattern (policy-focused journals accounted for 25.68% of publications; the Ministry of Civil Affairs had the highest publication volume, accounting for 2.19%. There was a structural disconnect between demand and research: on the one hand, the outbreak of elderly rehabilitation demand was marginalized in research (located in the lower left quadrant of the strategic coordinates, but keyword clustering dissolved in the “# 0 rehabilitation industry”); on the other hand, although exercise rehabilitation was a hot topic (ranked first in frequency, centrality>0.1), its maturity was insufficient (located in the lower right quadrant of the strategic coordinates). The research hotspots continued to shift towards “integration of industry and education” and “high-quality development” (temporal evolution), with the emergence of the term “rehabilitation” (strength=4.09) marking a historical focus, while technology transformation and collaboration in the public welfare market (isolation of the language rehabilitation industry) had become key breakthrough directions. Conclusion The rehabilitation industry in China urgently needs to break the dilemma of “high yield and low cooperation”, promote research and practice collaboration through three-dimensional innovation of technology education system, and support the rehabilitation needs of an aging society.
ObjectivesTo analyze the characteristics six types of cross-regional cancer patients and their medical behavior in Beijing.MethodsWe described the characteristics of cross-regional patients, analyzed the differences between cross-regional and local patients, and identified the key factors by analyzing the influencing factors of patient's cross-regional behavior to factors by using binary logistic regression model.ResultsCompared with local patients, cross-regional cancer patients had the following characteristics: consisting primarily of young and middle-aged workforce, simpler disease status and those more inclined to choose special hospital and surgical treatment.ConclusionsPromoting the construction of regional oncology medical center can meet the needs of cross-regional patients and relieve the pressure of medical treatment in large cities caused by cross-regional medical treatment behavior.
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 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.
Global ambulatory surgery services center on efficiency optimization, while China, against the backdrop of the medical and health system reform, has realized the transformation from “ambulatory surgery” to “ambulatory care”, shifting from an efficiency-oriented approach to a dual orientation of system restructuring + patient needs. Adopting a combined method of literature review and policy text analysis, this paper systematically sorts out more than 30 core policy documents issued at the national level over the past 20 years and nearly 100 papers from core domestic journals, and constructs an integrated analytical framework of “policy-concept-model”. The study clarifies the policy evolution logic of Chinese-style ambulatory care featuring “instrumental application → systematic integration → strategic restructuring”, and defines the hierarchical relationship and boundaries between “ambulatory surgery” and “ambulatory care”. This review provides a referential practical guide for different types of medical institutions and highlights the core value of Chinese-style ambulatory care as a key initiative for the supply-side structural reform of medical services.
Avoidable mortality (AM) is an important indicator of health system performance. It is also an effective tool for evaluating the effectiveness of health measures and allocation of health resources. The concept development, analytical methods, and research contents of avoidable mortality are introduced in this study. This study investigated the applicability of avoidable mortality analysis in determining priority health-service intervention areas, determining priority health-service intervention populations and evaluating the quality of those services. This paper also discussed the significance and limitations of avoidable mortality analysis. The investigation provided references for further research and application of avoidable mortality analysis.