Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40580263›Full record

ArticleInternational journal of clinical pharmacy2025

Exploring community pharmacy manager/ pharmacist perceptions and responses to China's dual-channel policy for improving access and rational use of innovative drugs: a qualitative study.

Xingmiao Zhu, Hao Hu, Dongning Yao

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in International journal of clinical pharmacy, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors.

Xingmiao ZhuDepartment of Drug Regulatory Science and Pharmacoeconomics, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.
Hao HuState Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macao, China.
Dongning YaoDepartment of Drug Regulatory Science and Pharmacoeconomics, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China. dnyao@njmu.edu.cn.

Funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China No. 72204119
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionTo improve access to innovative medications, the Chinese government introduced a dual-channel policy, allowing community pharmacies to dispense innovative drugs listed in the National Reimbursement Drug List of the national healthcare security system. However, research on how community pharmacies interpret and respond to these policies remains limited.

aimTo investigate community pharmacy manager/ pharmacist perceptions of and responses to the dual-channel policy, with a focus on improving accessibility and the rational use of innovative drugs for patients in China.

methodA qualitative research design, involving semi-structured interviews, was conducted in Jiangsu Province, China. The interview guide was developed to address key domains relevant to community and licensed pharmacists. The participants were recruited through purposive and snowball sampling to ensure diverse perspectives. The interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using the framework method. NVivo software was used for coding and theme development, until theoretical saturation was achieved.

resultsThe participants viewed the dual-channel policy as an opportunity to expand business operations and enhance market competitiveness. However, they also identified several challenges, including space and storage constraints, regional inconsistencies in electronic prescription systems, limited influence on hospital prescription flows, selective partnerships with pharmaceutical companies, and elevated service expectations from patients. In response, pharmacies have implemented a range of hardware-focused strategies, such as upgrading service areas, integrating insurance billing systems, and developing patient management platforms, as well as soft competence strategies, including pharmacist training on innovative drugs and disease knowledge, interpretation of reimbursement policies, and emergency response preparedness.

conclusionThis study demonstrates that participation in a dual-channel policy is widely perceived by community pharmacies as a strategic opportunity, despite the associated operational and systemic challenges. Proactive engagement with the policy not only strengthened their competitive positioning but also contributed to improved pharmaceutical services and patient care outcomes.

Indexed as

Community Pharmacy ServicesDrugs, InvestigationalHealth Services AccessibilityPharmaciesPharmacistsChinaHumansQualitative ResearchDrugs, InvestigationalChinaCommunity pharmacistCommunity pharmacyDual-channel policyInnovative drugPharmaceutical policyPharmaceutical service

Identifiers

PMID40580263
PMCPMC12630151

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.