OBJECTIVE：To provide reference for improving the national essential medicine system and satisfy the needs of rational use from the public METHODS： The current situation and existing problems in the national essential system were described by literature research and comparative analysis， and recommendations were presented. RESULTS： The implementation of essential medicine system has certain effects in China， but there still remains some problems， involving too much variety of essential medicines， high price and others， and limitation of the use of medicine and distribution in primary medical institutions. CONCLUSIONS：Government should further simplify the essential medicine lists， reduce prices， strengthen policy support for primary medical institutions， deepen the national essential medicine system and protect the public’s rational drug use.