Using the method of multi?stage sampling， a questionnaire survey among 485 patients and 250 full?time doctors from 11 primary health care institutions was conducted in Jiangsu to analyze the current situation of essential drugs provision and use in primary health care institutions and explore problems in the implementation of national essential medicine policy in order to propose measures to safeguard the supply of medicines. The results showed: a total of 35.6% of doctors perceived increasing situation of drug shortage and the perception of doctors comparing south Jiangsu to non?south Jiangsu was different（P=0.007）； 32.4% of doctors agreed that drug prices were falling and the perception was different comparing south Jiangsu to non?south Jiangsu（P=0.015）； 79.2% of patients considered that the drugs provided by primary care institutions can satisfy medical need and patients comparing south Jiangsu to non?south Jiangsu had different perceptions of medical needs（P<0.01）. Logistic regression analysis results showed that， region and income were the factors that influence the patients’ choice for whether primary health institutions need to be equipped with more types of drugs. In order to solve the problems of insufficient drug supply， it is necessary to further implement the policy of allowing the primary care institutions to equip a certain proportion of drugs out of the essential drugs list while in the drug reimbursement list. The government also should improve the list of essential drugs and strengthen supervision over the bidding， procurement and circulation of drugs， and increase financial input and support for supply of medicines in non?south Jiangsu region.