Self-medication and universal health coverage in China

What is it about?

Self-medication is a growing problem in China. Near 60% subjects aged 45 years and above in medical needs were self-medicated. The monitoring of global progress to UHC should incorporate self-medication. It seems that the current reform and the huge investment has not resulted in access to affordable quality care.

Featured Image

Why is it important?

Ageing and the rising incidence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) have become global public health challenges. Consensus has been reached to strengthen countries’ health system around the principle of universal health coverage (UHC). While financial support is important, the core value embedded in UHC is universal provision of quality care; thus, the population’s health care-seeking behaviour needs to be monitored from the perspective of people-centred care. According to the WHO, people-centred care refers to care that is focused and organised around the medical needs and expectations of people rather than diseases. Currently efforts in monitoring global progress in service delivery of UHC lack such a perspective. Indicators are either disease/condition-specific or only on access to formal care. However, to be people-centred, more comprehensive information is necessary. People who are in need of medical care may or may not seek care, or they may self-medicate. Few studies have investigated this.