OBJECTIVES: To investigate disparities in inventory and consumption trends of essential medicines (EMs) across healthcare institutions and regions in China, and assess the impact of EMs inventory on their consumption. The findings aim to provide valuable references for low- and middle-income countries to improve the rational use of healthcare resources.

METHODS: Panel data from 47,266 healthcare institutions across China (2016-2021) were collected through the national drug utilization monitoring database. We calculated the proportion of EMs in overall stock medicines (based on generic names) in a given medical institution, along with the proportion of EMs consumption. A two-way fixed effects regression model was utilized to analyze the potential causal effects of EMs inventory on its consumption.

RESULTS: From 2016 to 2021, the nationwide proportion of EMs in stock increased from 44.18% to 56.33%, and dispensed EMs increased from 56.04% to 58.69%. The average number of stocked EMs rose from 98.0 to 114.0 in primary healthcare institutions; 186.0 to 197.0 in secondary hospitals; and 243.0 to 277.0 in tertiary hospitals. In 2021, primary healthcare institutions had the highest proportion of dispensed EMs at 64.29%, followed by secondary hospitals at 62.72% and tertiary hospitals at 55.56%. The consumption trends of EMs presented disparities across various regions. Multivariate regression results indicated that the uptake of prescribed EMs was significantly associated with increased consumption (R²=0.241; P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: Significant differences exist in the inventory and consumption of EMs across healthcare institutions and regions in China. Enhanced inventory management of EMs significantly contributes to their increased consumption. Developing countries might consider strategies to ensure the prior accessibility of EMs, thereby improving rational use of healthcare resources.