RESUMEN
Objective To understand the comments for the essential drug system by doctors at township health centers in Nantong's six counties and to discuss the effect of implementing the essential drug system to different ownership systems.Methods The survey was made with stratified clusters random sampling method to select township health centers.Questionnaires were filled out by doctors,and leaders of the health bureau and township health centers were interviewed.Results After the implementation of the essential drug system,94.6％of the doctors found that the number of laboratory examinations increased in Rugao,Rudong and Haian.23.2％of the doctors in Tongzhou,Qidong and Haimen found that enthusiasm for work increased.Conclusion The compensation mechanism should be perfected and the financial subsidies should be paid in time.Supervision and management should be strengthened and the grassroots need for medicine be ensured.The skills training should be enhanced and the medical service ability be improved.