Evaluation, in three provinces, of the introduction and impact of China's National Essential Medicines Scheme.

Objective: To evaluate implementation of the National Essential Medicines Scheme (NEMS) in rural China.

Methods: Two rural counties/districts in each of three provinces where NEMS had been implemented were surveyed. Information was collected from NEMS staff at the province, county/district, township and village levels; patients with chronic disease were also interviewed.