China to further pilot medicine procurement program

The pilot medicine procurement program, centralized procurement program (where collective buying goes to the lowest priced bidder) was tested in 11 major cities to lower drug prices and reduce the burden on patients.

A total of 25 drugs were selected and their prices were cut down by 52 percent on average, with the biggest drop rate over 90 percent.

The medicine procurement program should be further improved while quality supervision and supply guarantee of selected drugs should be strengthened, so as to lessen the price and benefit the people.