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ISPOR 2nd Asia-Pacific Conference: Significance for China
Shanlian Hu, MD, MSc, Chair, ISPOR 2nd Asia-Pacific Conference Program Committee, and Professor, School of Public Health,
Fudan University, Shanghai, P.R. China
China had the privilege to host the ISPOR 2nd Asia-Pacific
Conference in Shanghai, March 5-7, 2006, which was organized by
ISPOR, the ISPOR Asia Consortium, and Fu Dan University,
Shanghai, China.
The significance of the 750 participants from 31 countries
and regions was not only the number of participants, but also
the diversified backgrounds of the participants. The scope of
the conference attracted many different stakeholders, such as
academia, pharmaceutical enterprises, hospital managers and
policy makers. Improving evidencebased medicine and outcomes
research in health care decision making is proving to be a
challenge in Asia-Pacific region.
As the host country, China will receive many benefits from
the conference. First, it will create an external environment to
promote the development of pharmacoeconomics and outcomes
research in China in the future. We learned much in terms of
international experience in the development and implementation
of pharmacoeconomics from Asia, Europe, and the US throughout
the conference, as well as building a platform and close
relationship with ISPOR.
Second, it is a model for leadership development. We trust,
at least in the Chinese context, the achievement of developing
pharmacoeconomics and outcomes research relies on the commitment
and making evidence- based drug policy from the government.
Fifty percent of over 360 Chinese participants in the conference
were officials from related government departments; the contents
of the conference met their needs. Although the history of
pharmacoeconomics and outcomes research in China is not long, it
is witnessed that the outcomes research has entered into a new
era. In fact, information had been widely disseminated through
Chinese newspapers and medical journals after the conference
concluded.
Third, medication economic issues have become a common
concern among clinicians, pharmacists, sociologists and health
economists, as well as by officials of social security, drug
administration and drug pricing. During the conference, Chinese
Medical Doctor Association announced the first draft of China
Pharmacoeconomic Evaluation Guidelines. The objective was to
establish the standards and criteria for pharmacoeconomic
evaluation as soon as possible. The committee drafted the
guidelines included experts from multidisciplinary and academic
institutions, the Research Centre and Legislative Affairs Office
of the State Council, National Development and Reform
Commission, Ministries of Health, Labor and Social Security and
the State Food and Drug Administration, which are involved in
the formulation of drug policy in China. In addition, with the
support of ISPOR, the CMDA Pharmacoeconomic Professional
Committee was officially recognized as the ISPOR Chinese MDA-PE
Chapter in January 2006. This is ISPOR’s effort to promote
pharmacoeconomics and outcomes research in China. We plan to
establish more China chapters, such as student chapters and
university-level chapters, in the future to disseminate PE
knowledge and skills more widely. At present, the Chinese
government has started to apply pharmacoeconomics in drug
pricing, adjustment of essential drug list and OTC drug
management.
Finally, I would like to acknowledge the efforts of ISPOR
President Peter Neumann, ISPOR President-elect Michael Drummond,
Marilyn Dix Smith, the Founding Executive Director of ISPOR, and
all members of the ISPOR Asia Consortium for their dedication in
making this conference a success. |
