The interpretation of China national essential medicines list 2018

Background: In 2018, China implemented the latest National Essential Medicines List (NEML) by enhancing the NEML 2012. The goal of our studies is to analyze the changes in the two lists and compared them with the 20^th EML issued by WHO in 2017. And then provide suggestions for emerging problems.Method: The overall composition of the categories, specific drugs, characteristics, advantages and disadvantages of the lists were compared by descriptive analysis. The neuropsychiatric disorders system medicines and patented medicines were analyzed to illustrate the changes of NEML.Results: In 20^th WHO-EML, the largest increase was the medicines used for children (13 to the core list and 12 to the complementary list). In 2018 NEML, rounding out the top were medicines used for cardiovascular system. Among the 120 new medicines, 30 new medicines were included in 2017 WHO-EML. Eleven patented medicines were new-added in NEML; however, 8 was not included in WHO-EML.Conclusion: China has a large population, and the territorial development is uneven. Although the essence of EMLs is a limited list, NEML should enlarge the choices properly. 2018 NEML provides a comprehensive coverage of diseases. Some of the medicines, including high-priced medicines that were not recommended by WHO.