Changes in antibiotic use associated with the National Centralized Drug Procurement policy in China from 2019 to 2023

The study examines changes in antibiotic use under the National Centralized Drug Procurement Policy (NCDP) in four medical institutions in Central, Western, and Eastern China. It found that the policy primarily influenced the substitution of non-NCDP varieties with NCDP varieties in inpatient settings, leading to a decline in overall and injectable antibiotic utilization rates. Regular monitoring and management are crucial for optimizing antibiotic stewardship.