The impact of long-term prescription policy on primary care utilisation and costs among hypertensive patients in China: a six-year longitudinal study

The long-term prescription policy mainly affected patients' health care utilisation at CHCs and did facilitate patients with chronic diseases to refill drugs conveniently. The policy impact on patient health outcomes needs to be further observed and more attention should be given to the factors that may influence family doctors' behaviour in delivering the long-term prescription service.