Objective To analyze the overall deployment of Class-A large medical equipments in China.Methods Data of Class A large medical equipments deployed from 2007 to 2015 were collected and classified regionally,for the purpose of measuring the overall deployment,growth level and plan performance.Results There were 403 large medical equipments in China,a rapid rise of deployment,yet still far below developed countries in terms of per capita deployment.Regional differences were significant.With PET-CT as an example,the plan performance in the east(92.19%)was much higher than the west of China(68.57%);plan performance of Class-A equipments was better,conducive to regulating the increase and distribution.Conclusions The deployment level of Class-A equipments in China is low in general,and calls for better regulation regardless of the planning and management progress.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the cost-effectiveness of two breast cancer screening modalities conducted in Minhang district of Shanghai, China.

METHODSAn organized and an opportunistic breast screening programs were implemented among women aged 35-74 years in Minhang district of Shanghai between May 2008 and Oct 2010, and were compared with the results obtained without screening. Costs related to screening were obtained by access to finance data of the screening programs, and costs of first treatment were collected through patient survey and medical reimbursement system query. Information on breast cancer stage was obtained from Shanghai Cancer Registry and confirmed by medical chart review. The effectiveness of screening was evaluated by breast cancer stage improvement.Cost-effectiveness ratios (CERs) were computed as costs of gaining a stage improvement from a specified screening strategy when compared with the results obtained without screening. Incremental cost-effectiveness (ICER) which compares the two screening strategies was calculated by dividing the difference in total net costs and the difference in stages improved between the two screening strategies.

RESULTSThirty-five, one hundred and ninety-three and four hundred and seventy-nine breast cancer cases were identified in the organized screening, opportunistic screening and control groups, with an early detection rate of 46.9%, 40.7% and 38.9%, respectively. The costs of screening were 208 yuan per person or 72 453 yuan per case detected in the organized screening group and were 21 yuan per person or 11 640 yuan per case detected in the opportunistic screening group. The total cost was 103 650 yuan per case in the organized screening group, significantly higher than 50 712 yuan in the opportunistic screening group and 35 413 yuan in the control group. However, the average direct medical cost was significantly lower in the organized screening group than that in the opportunistic screening group and control group, with median costs of 11 024 yuan, 13 465 yuan and 14 243 yuan per case, respectively (P<0.001). The additional cost per case detected was 68 237 yuan for the organized screening and 15 299 yuan for opportunistic screening. The CERs were 135 291 yuan and 152 179 yuan per stage improved in the organized screening and opportunistic screening relative to the control group, with ICER of organized versus opportunistic screening being 131 086 yuan per stage improved.

CONCLUSIONSThe organized screening modality and the opportunistic one are both effective in early detecting breast cancer in Chinese women. The organized screening costs more than opportunistic screening, but with a better cost-effectiveness. It may be used as an option in economically developed areas of China.

Adult ; Aged ; Breast Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; pathology ; China ; Cost-Benefit Analysis ; Early Detection of Cancer ; economics ; Female ; Humans ; Mass Screening ; economics ; Middle Aged ; Program Development ; economics ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Objective To determine the most cost-effective modality for breast cancer screening in women living in Shanghai.Methods A Markov model for breast cancer was redeveloped based on true effect which was derived from a project for detection of women at high risk of breast cancer and an organized breast cancer screening program conducted simultaneously in Minhang district,Shanghai,during 2008 to 2012.Parameters of the model were derived from literatures.General principles related to cost-effectiveness analysis were used to compare the costs and effects of 12 different screening modalities in a simulated cohort involving 100 000 women aged 45 years.Incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) was used to determine the most cost-effective modality.Sensitivity analysis was conducted to evaluate how these factors affected the estimated cost-effectiveness.Results The modality of biennial CBE followed by ultrasonic and mammography among those with positive CBE was observed as the most cost-effective one.The costs appeared as 182 526 Yuan RMB per life year gained and 144 386 Yuan RMB per quality adjusted life-year (QALY) saved,which were within the threshold of 2-3 times of local per capita Gross Domestic Product.Results from sensitivity analysis showed that,due to higher incidence rate of breast cancer in Shanghai,the cost per QALY would be 64 836 Yuan RMB lower in Shanghai than the average level in China.Conclusion Our research findings showed that the biennial CBE program followed by ultrasonic and mammography for those with positive CBE results might serve as the optimal breast cancer screening modality for Chinese women living in Shanghai,and thus be widely promoted in this population elsewhere.