ABSTRACT
Objective To provide the supporting evidence for the separation policy between medicine and pharmacy by investigating the effect of the policy on pharmacy administration in four three grade hospitals.Methods The drug supply chain management was researched in 4 pilot hospitals.Specifically, the difference between Shanghai Sixth People′s Hospital and the Sixth People′s Hospital East Campus was compared.Changes of rational drug use index before and after the separation policy were documented for the Sixth People′s Hospital East Campus.Results ① 4 pilot hospitals with professional management of hospital drug supply chain achieved savings in staff, equipment and drug inventory.② The Sixth People′s Hospital East Campus has higher out of stock rate than Shanghai Sixth People′s Hospital.③ The rational drug use indicators were ameliorated after implementation of the separation policy in the Sixth People′s hospital East Campus.Conclusions The separation policy between medicine and pharmacy not only reduces hospital cost, but also improves hospital pharmacy management.