Overprescribing In China, Driven By Financial Incentives, Results In Very High Use Of Antibiotics, Injections, And Corticosteroids

• DOI: 10.1377/hlthaff.2010.0965
• Publication Date: 2012-05-07T22:34:39Z
• Authors: Yongbin Li; Jing Xu; Fang Wang; Bin Wang; Liqun Liu; Wanli Hou; Hong Fan; Yeqing Tong; Juan Zhang; Zuxun Lu
• Keywords: China; Inappropriate Prescribing; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Injections; 3. Good health; 03 medical and health sciences; 0302 clinical medicine; Adrenal Cortex Hormones; Health Care Surveys; Humans; Practice Patterns, Physicians'; Reimbursement, Incentive

In appropriate prescribing is a global problem. It especially salient in China, where drug sales constitute major portion of health care providers' incomes, price distortions are rampant, and oversight lax. However, few data exist on the prevalence inappropriate China. This study, first its kind examined 230,800 prescriptions written between 2007 2009 by 784 community institutions 28 cities across The show substantial overprescribing, including twice as many for antibiotics recommended World Health Organization rates injection that three times higher than similar countries. These findings point to need integrate rational into China's ongoing reform.