Table 1 The main aspects and core indicators of the quantitative study

Storage, usage and supply of essential medicines in the hospitals

The numbers stocked and proportion of drugs sales what were essential medicines, supply delay time and reason

The implementation status of the supporting policies (compensation mechanisms and medical insurance policies)

The means of financial assistance, the financial subsidies at all levels; total cost of medical insurance compensation

Effects on the operation of the hospitals of implementing the policy (i.e., the hospitals’ incomes, service amounts and fees)

Drug income, proportion of income from medicine sales; outpatient and emergency visits, inpatient visits; the outpatient and per-visit hospitalization fees