Abstract: ObjectiveTo explore the cognition and related behavior of institution of national basic drugs(NBD) in community medical staff in Guangzhou and Shenzhen city and to provide basis for effective implementation of NBD in community.MethodsTotally 504 medical staff from 30 community health service institutions(CHSI) in Guangzhou and Shenzhen city were investigated with a questionnaire.ResultsAmong the staff,324(64.8%) considered that the institution of NBD was implemented strictly in the hospitals they worked in and there were more staff in Shenzhen(74.6%) held the consideration than in Guangzhou(42.9%)(χ²=55.636,P<0.001).Among the 504 community medical staff,278(55.3%) had some knowledge about NBD system and 398(79.4%) knew some drugs belonged to the institution of NBD.The correct answer rate was 44.5% for implementary time of NBD,56.9% for the number of NBD,and 38.1% for the supplementation of NBD in Guangdong province in 2010;there were significant differences in the rates between Guangzhou and Shenzhen.Among the staff,412(86.2%) reported the willingness of prescribing NBD to the patients,279(61.9%) prescribed medicine according to the treatment effect of the drugs before the implementation of NBD,187(41.6%) reported prescribing NBD most of the time.In regular medical service,31.6% of the staff provided NBD knowledge to the patients and 45.6% provided the knowledge seldomly.There were 48.5% of the staff considered that the institution of NBD had affection on their salary and 27.3% believed that the salary was decreased because of the affection of NBD implementation.ConclusionThe cognition of the medical staff for NBD and implementation of NBD system in community hospitals of Guangzhou and Shenzhen city are not good.Further effective strategies should be taken to perfect the situation.