Influence of Government Price Regulation on the Price, Volume and Spending of Antibiotics in China: A Controlled Interrupted Time Series Study

BackgroundChinese government established maximum retail prices for antibiotics listed in China’s National Reimbursement List in February ۲۰۱۳. This study aimed to analyze the impact of pharmaceutical price regulation on the price, volume and spending of antibiotics in China.MethodsAn interrupted time series design with comparison series was used to examine impacts of the policy changes on average daily cost, monthly hospital purchase volume and spending of the ۱۱ price-regulated antibiotics and ۴۰ priceunregulated antibiotics in ۶۹۹ hospitals. One intervention point was applied to assess the impact of policy. ResultsAfter government price regulation, compared to price-unregulated antibiotics, the average daily cost of the price-regulated group declined rapidly (β = -۵.۶۸, P < .۰۰۱). The average hospital monthly purchase spending of priceregulated antibiotics also decreased rapidly (β = -۰.۴۹, P < .۰۱۰) and a positive trend change (β = ۰.۰۴, P < .۰۰۱) in average hospital spending of price-unregulated antibiotics was found. ConclusionGovernment regulation can reduce the prices and spending of price-regulated antibiotics. To control increasing expenditure, besides price caps regulation, factors determining drug utilization also need to be considered in policy designing.

Keywords:

Price Regulation , Interrupted Time Series , Antibiotics , China