ArticleBMJ open2018
Moving towards a better path? A mixed-method examination of China's reforms to remedy medical corruption from pharmaceutical firms.
Article in BMJ open, 2018. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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Who cites it
7 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- A systematic review of pooled procurement of medicines and vaccines: identifying elements of success.Globalization and health · 2022Pooled it
- Reforming the white coat economy: judicial evidence and institutional implications from China's healthcare anti-corruption campaign.Frontiers in public health · 2026Article
- Has the Volume-Based Drug Purchasing Approach Achieved Equilibrium among Various Stakeholders? Evidence from China.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2022Article
- Pharmaceutical Sales Representatives in the United States and China: The Need for Professional Public Space.Health care analysis : HCA : journal of health philosophy and policy · 2022Article
- From Mao to McDonaldization? Assessing the rationalisation of health care in China.Sociology of health & illness · 2021Review
- Cluster analysis of differences in medical economic burden among residents of different economic levels in Guangdong Province, China.BMC health services research · 2020Article
- Availability, prices and affordability of essential medicines for children: a cross-sectional survey in Jiangsu Province, China.BMJ open · 2018Article
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8 authors.
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Abstract
objectivesFew studies have systematically examined the effects of the existing regulations for alleviating corruption in China. This study assesses the effectiveness of China's reforms to curb medical corruption.
methodsWe used mixed methods for the evaluation of existing countermeasures. First, qualitative informant interviews based on the Donabedian model were conducted to obtain experts' evaluation of various kinds of countermeasures. Second, using data from 'China Judgements Online', we analysed the trend of occurrence and the characteristics of the medical corruption cases in recent years to reflect the overall effects of these countermeasures in China.
resultsSince 1990s, China has implemented three main categories of countermeasures to oppose medical corruption: fines and criminal penalties, health policy regulations, and reporting scheme policy. Information from the interviews showed that first the level of fines and criminal penalties for medical corruption behaviours may not be sufficient. Second, health policy regulations are also insufficient. Although the National Reimbursement Drug List and Essential Drug List were implemented, they were incomplete and created additional opportunities for corruption. Moreover, the new programme that centralised the purchase of pharmaceuticals found that most purchasing committees were not independent, and the selection criteria for bidding lacked scientific evidence. Third, the reporting scheme for commercial bribery records by the health bureau was executed poorly. In addition, quantitative online data showed no obvious decrease of institutional medical corruption in recent years, and most criminals have been committing crimes for a long time before getting detected, which further demonstrated the low effectiveness of the above countermeasures.
conclusionsAlthough existing countermeasures have exerted certain effects according to Chinese experts, more rigorous legislation and well-functioning administrative mechanisms are needed. Fundamentally, financial incentives for hospitals/physicians and the health insurance system should be improved.
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