Enhancing Taiwan's healthcare sustainability: A Delphi study on national medicines policy reforms
Background/purpose: The National Medicines Policy (NMP) is crucial as it sets the framework for ensuring access to affordable, high-quality medicines and promoting their rational use, which is essential for public health and the efficiency of the healthcare system. This study aims to evaluate the cu...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2024-11-01
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| Series: | Journal of the Formosan Medical Association |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0929664624003863 |
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| author | Chih-Fen Huang Kuan-Lin Chen Fang-Ju Lin Chi-Chuan Wang Churn-Shiouh Gau Li-Jiuan Shen |
| author_facet | Chih-Fen Huang Kuan-Lin Chen Fang-Ju Lin Chi-Chuan Wang Churn-Shiouh Gau Li-Jiuan Shen |
| author_sort | Chih-Fen Huang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background/purpose: The National Medicines Policy (NMP) is crucial as it sets the framework for ensuring access to affordable, high-quality medicines and promoting their rational use, which is essential for public health and the efficiency of the healthcare system. This study aims to evaluate the current state of Taiwan's NMP, identify pressing issues for improvement, and establish actionable suggestions through expert consensus to ensure the sustainable provision and use of medications. Methods: A modified two-round Delphi technique was employed. The first-round survey identified key issues and suggestions for policy improvement, while the second-round survey evaluated the feasibility and effectiveness of these suggestions. The expert panel, consisting of 50 specialists from pharmacy, medicine, public health, and the pharmaceutical industry, evaluated key issues related to the NMP's efficacy using a 4-point Likert scale. Results: The first-round survey identified 13 key issues in Taiwan's NMP, primarily focusing on the rational use and accessibility of medications. The second-round survey proposed 54 policy improvement suggestions for these issues, of which 20 were considered strong suggestions and 23 were moderate suggestions. The policy recommendations cover medication reimbursement, pharmacy professional services, administration, legislation, and education. Conclusion: The study highlights the urgent need for reforms in Taiwan's NMP, providing specific policy improvement suggestions to ensure high-quality medications and pharmaceutical services while supporting the sustainable operation of Taiwan's NHI system. The study underscores the significance of proactive measures to fortify healthcare sustainability in the face of evolving healthcare landscapes. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-79c0417a75384e6bb3a0af2144dc30db |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 0929-6646 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-11-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of the Formosan Medical Association |
| spelling | doaj-art-79c0417a75384e6bb3a0af2144dc30db2025-08-20T02:18:58ZengElsevierJournal of the Formosan Medical Association0929-66462024-11-01123S169S17910.1016/j.jfma.2024.08.018Enhancing Taiwan's healthcare sustainability: A Delphi study on national medicines policy reformsChih-Fen Huang0Kuan-Lin Chen1Fang-Ju Lin2Chi-Chuan Wang3Churn-Shiouh Gau4Li-Jiuan Shen5Department of Pharmacy, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; School of Pharmacy, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, TaiwanDepartment of Pharmacy, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, TaiwanDepartment of Pharmacy, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; School of Pharmacy, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan; Graduate Institute of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, TaiwanDepartment of Pharmacy, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; School of Pharmacy, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan; Graduate Institute of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, TaiwanSchool of Pharmacy, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan; Graduate Institute of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, TaiwanDepartment of Pharmacy, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; School of Pharmacy, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan; Graduate Institute of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan; Corresponding author. No. 33, Linsen S. Rd., Zhongzheng Dist., Taipei City, 10050, Taiwan.Background/purpose: The National Medicines Policy (NMP) is crucial as it sets the framework for ensuring access to affordable, high-quality medicines and promoting their rational use, which is essential for public health and the efficiency of the healthcare system. This study aims to evaluate the current state of Taiwan's NMP, identify pressing issues for improvement, and establish actionable suggestions through expert consensus to ensure the sustainable provision and use of medications. Methods: A modified two-round Delphi technique was employed. The first-round survey identified key issues and suggestions for policy improvement, while the second-round survey evaluated the feasibility and effectiveness of these suggestions. The expert panel, consisting of 50 specialists from pharmacy, medicine, public health, and the pharmaceutical industry, evaluated key issues related to the NMP's efficacy using a 4-point Likert scale. Results: The first-round survey identified 13 key issues in Taiwan's NMP, primarily focusing on the rational use and accessibility of medications. The second-round survey proposed 54 policy improvement suggestions for these issues, of which 20 were considered strong suggestions and 23 were moderate suggestions. The policy recommendations cover medication reimbursement, pharmacy professional services, administration, legislation, and education. Conclusion: The study highlights the urgent need for reforms in Taiwan's NMP, providing specific policy improvement suggestions to ensure high-quality medications and pharmaceutical services while supporting the sustainable operation of Taiwan's NHI system. The study underscores the significance of proactive measures to fortify healthcare sustainability in the face of evolving healthcare landscapes.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0929664624003863Delphi techniqueHealthcare sustainabilityPolicy improvementTaiwanNational health insuranceNational medicines policy |
| spellingShingle | Chih-Fen Huang Kuan-Lin Chen Fang-Ju Lin Chi-Chuan Wang Churn-Shiouh Gau Li-Jiuan Shen Enhancing Taiwan's healthcare sustainability: A Delphi study on national medicines policy reforms Journal of the Formosan Medical Association Delphi technique Healthcare sustainability Policy improvement Taiwan National health insurance National medicines policy |
| title | Enhancing Taiwan's healthcare sustainability: A Delphi study on national medicines policy reforms |
| title_full | Enhancing Taiwan's healthcare sustainability: A Delphi study on national medicines policy reforms |
| title_fullStr | Enhancing Taiwan's healthcare sustainability: A Delphi study on national medicines policy reforms |
| title_full_unstemmed | Enhancing Taiwan's healthcare sustainability: A Delphi study on national medicines policy reforms |
| title_short | Enhancing Taiwan's healthcare sustainability: A Delphi study on national medicines policy reforms |
| title_sort | enhancing taiwan s healthcare sustainability a delphi study on national medicines policy reforms |
| topic | Delphi technique Healthcare sustainability Policy improvement Taiwan National health insurance National medicines policy |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0929664624003863 |
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