Drug price system will change

The most concerned problems for relevant enterprises is whether the drug price will keep going down and whether drug price system will change.

The officer coming from Price Supervision Department of National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) said, "NDRC is planning to reform current drug price system". The change mainly includes seven aspects. 

First, price supervision departments will set unified prices of basic drugs as the standard for the imbursement of health insurance. While the goverment permits the inexpensive drugs produced by designated enterprises directly going into hospitals without passing bidding procedure.

Second, for decreasing the rate of price differences and reducing the cost of circulation, the government encourages direct selling, namely the manufactures directly distribute the drugs to hospitals or pharmacies.

Third, for the copy drugs produced by a number of enterprises, the same breed (including same ingredient) has the same price.

Fourth, for reducing the medical organizations' added price, the prices for original drug and its copy drug are set by a same price system.

Fifth, for the hospitals which implement the policy of "zero price differences", the policy of doctor prescription fee will be tried out, namely to provide imbursement to doctor's prescription.

Sixth, the price supervision department of the State Council only set the prices of the drugs which are listed in catalog of drugs for the Basic Medical Insurance System for Workers and Staff, the Basic Medical Insurance System for urban residents and New Rural Cooperative Medical System, or made by monopolistic enterprises. The prices of other drugs are set by local price supervision departments.

Seventh, to promote retail prices of drugs are labeled on outer packaging. (not end)