Real-world Data for Healthcare Research in China: Call for Actions
Value in Health Regional Issues, Volume 27, 2022
An increasing demand for real-world data (RWD) to support medical and health care decision making in China has yielded many new data sources. However, public information regarding these sources has been limited. Working with a panel of experts on real-world evidence (RWE) in China, Analysis Group researchers published an overview and comparison of major data sources in China that can potentially be used in medical and clinical practice, epidemiology, and health economics and outcomes research (HEOR).
In the study, the team first identified data sources through a targeted literature review and expert recommendations. The team then conducted an in-depth assessment of the strengths and limitations of administrative claims and electronic health record (EHR) data, compared with similar data sources in other countries, and organized a panel discussion with data industry experts on major data sources. The study team found limitations in the research use of secondary databases and revealed two fundamental challenges that hinder RWD generation: data access and data quality. The authors provided recommendations for improving RWD generation and suggested that establishing a sustainable, long-term, multi-sector collaboration mechanism is a critical consideration in the continued development of RWD in China.
The research was led by Analysis Group Managing Principal Eric Wu, Vice President Jia Zhong, and researchers from Peking University People’s Hospital, the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, and Merck. The study, “Real-world Data for Healthcare Research in China: Call for Actions,” was published in ISPOR’s Value in Health Regional Issues.