The universal zero markup drug policy and gastric cancer hospitalization expenses: an analysis of trends and influencing factors in Shanghai from 2014 to 2021

Abstract Background The increasing hospitalization expenses for Gastric Cancer (GC) impose a notable economic burden on society. Although the Chinese government has implemented the Universal Zero Markup Drug Policy (UZMDP) to control the growth of hospitalization expenditures, costs have continued t...

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Main Authors: Yichun Gu, Jiajun Hao, Da He, Hui Sun, Xin Cui, Wenqi Tian, Yulin Zhang, Chunlin Jin, Haiyin Wang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-04-01
Series:BMC Health Services Research
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-025-12422-4
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author Yichun Gu
Jiajun Hao
Da He
Hui Sun
Xin Cui
Wenqi Tian
Yulin Zhang
Chunlin Jin
Haiyin Wang
author_facet Yichun Gu
Jiajun Hao
Da He
Hui Sun
Xin Cui
Wenqi Tian
Yulin Zhang
Chunlin Jin
Haiyin Wang
author_sort Yichun Gu
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background The increasing hospitalization expenses for Gastric Cancer (GC) impose a notable economic burden on society. Although the Chinese government has implemented the Universal Zero Markup Drug Policy (UZMDP) to control the growth of hospitalization expenditures, costs have continued to rise. Identifying the factors influencing the hospitalization expenses of GC patients is crucial. This study aimed to analyze the trends and factors influencing hospitalization expenses of GC patients in Shanghai from 2014 to 2021. Methods Data were sourced from the Health Network of Shanghai Economic Information Center. We employed interrupted time series analysis (ITSA) to analyze the trends in various medical expenditures before and after the implementation of the UZMDP. The degree of association between various medical expenditures and hospitalization expenditures of GC patients was calculated by using the new grey relational analysis (GRA). Furthermore, multiple linear regression was employed to identify the influencing factors. Results A total of 23,335 participants were included in this study. The ITSA results showed an increasing trend in hospitalization expenses following the implementation of UZMDP. Drug expenses decreased immediately post-UZMDP, but subsequently began to rise over time. Post-UZMDP, the expenses of medical consumables, examination, and healthcare services all showed an upward trend. The new GRA indicated that the influencing factors of hospitalization expenses, in order of importance, were expenses for drugs, consumables, healthcare services, and examination. Multivariable linear regression analysis revealed that GC patients aged 60 or below incurred lower hospitalization expenses (Coefficient = -780.06, P = 0.0398). However, factors associated with increased hospitalization expenses included longer length of stay (Coefficient = 1753.01, P < 0.001), surgeries (Coefficient = 29,047.26, P < 0.001), and hospitalization in the tertiary hospitals (Coefficient = 25,485.19, P < 0.001) or secondary hospitals (Coefficient = 17,755.12, P < 0.001). Conclusions Hospitalization expenses of GC patients in Shanghai have been rising annually from 2014 to 2021. Despite the implementation of the UZMDP, drug expenses remain a major factor in escalating hospitalization expenses. The hospitalization expenses of GC patients are significantly influenced by several factors, including the demographic characteristics of patients, the severity of diseases, and the levels of hospitals. These findings provide a basis for more effective management of the hospitalization expenses for GC patients.
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spelling doaj-art-92fa29d6db0e4a66bcf33f7421867bda2025-08-20T02:19:58ZengBMCBMC Health Services Research1472-69632025-04-0125111010.1186/s12913-025-12422-4The universal zero markup drug policy and gastric cancer hospitalization expenses: an analysis of trends and influencing factors in Shanghai from 2014 to 2021Yichun Gu0Jiajun Hao1Da He2Hui Sun3Xin Cui4Wenqi Tian5Yulin Zhang6Chunlin Jin7Haiyin Wang8Shanghai Health Development Research CenterSchool of Public Health, Zhejiang University School of MedicineShanghai Health Development Research CenterShanghai Health Development Research CenterShanghai Health Statistics CenterShanghai Health Statistics CenterSchool of International Pharmaceutical Business, China Pharmaceutical UniversityShanghai Health Development Research CenterShanghai Health Development Research CenterAbstract Background The increasing hospitalization expenses for Gastric Cancer (GC) impose a notable economic burden on society. Although the Chinese government has implemented the Universal Zero Markup Drug Policy (UZMDP) to control the growth of hospitalization expenditures, costs have continued to rise. Identifying the factors influencing the hospitalization expenses of GC patients is crucial. This study aimed to analyze the trends and factors influencing hospitalization expenses of GC patients in Shanghai from 2014 to 2021. Methods Data were sourced from the Health Network of Shanghai Economic Information Center. We employed interrupted time series analysis (ITSA) to analyze the trends in various medical expenditures before and after the implementation of the UZMDP. The degree of association between various medical expenditures and hospitalization expenditures of GC patients was calculated by using the new grey relational analysis (GRA). Furthermore, multiple linear regression was employed to identify the influencing factors. Results A total of 23,335 participants were included in this study. The ITSA results showed an increasing trend in hospitalization expenses following the implementation of UZMDP. Drug expenses decreased immediately post-UZMDP, but subsequently began to rise over time. Post-UZMDP, the expenses of medical consumables, examination, and healthcare services all showed an upward trend. The new GRA indicated that the influencing factors of hospitalization expenses, in order of importance, were expenses for drugs, consumables, healthcare services, and examination. Multivariable linear regression analysis revealed that GC patients aged 60 or below incurred lower hospitalization expenses (Coefficient = -780.06, P = 0.0398). However, factors associated with increased hospitalization expenses included longer length of stay (Coefficient = 1753.01, P < 0.001), surgeries (Coefficient = 29,047.26, P < 0.001), and hospitalization in the tertiary hospitals (Coefficient = 25,485.19, P < 0.001) or secondary hospitals (Coefficient = 17,755.12, P < 0.001). Conclusions Hospitalization expenses of GC patients in Shanghai have been rising annually from 2014 to 2021. Despite the implementation of the UZMDP, drug expenses remain a major factor in escalating hospitalization expenses. The hospitalization expenses of GC patients are significantly influenced by several factors, including the demographic characteristics of patients, the severity of diseases, and the levels of hospitals. These findings provide a basis for more effective management of the hospitalization expenses for GC patients.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-025-12422-4Gastric cancerUniversal zero markup drug policyExpensesHospitalizationInterrupted time series analysisNew grey relational analysis
spellingShingle Yichun Gu
Jiajun Hao
Da He
Hui Sun
Xin Cui
Wenqi Tian
Yulin Zhang
Chunlin Jin
Haiyin Wang
The universal zero markup drug policy and gastric cancer hospitalization expenses: an analysis of trends and influencing factors in Shanghai from 2014 to 2021
BMC Health Services Research
Gastric cancer
Universal zero markup drug policy
Expenses
Hospitalization
Interrupted time series analysis
New grey relational analysis
title The universal zero markup drug policy and gastric cancer hospitalization expenses: an analysis of trends and influencing factors in Shanghai from 2014 to 2021
title_full The universal zero markup drug policy and gastric cancer hospitalization expenses: an analysis of trends and influencing factors in Shanghai from 2014 to 2021
title_fullStr The universal zero markup drug policy and gastric cancer hospitalization expenses: an analysis of trends and influencing factors in Shanghai from 2014 to 2021
title_full_unstemmed The universal zero markup drug policy and gastric cancer hospitalization expenses: an analysis of trends and influencing factors in Shanghai from 2014 to 2021
title_short The universal zero markup drug policy and gastric cancer hospitalization expenses: an analysis of trends and influencing factors in Shanghai from 2014 to 2021
title_sort universal zero markup drug policy and gastric cancer hospitalization expenses an analysis of trends and influencing factors in shanghai from 2014 to 2021
topic Gastric cancer
Universal zero markup drug policy
Expenses
Hospitalization
Interrupted time series analysis
New grey relational analysis
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-025-12422-4
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