As noted in our September 2009 post discussing China's new National Essential Drug System (NEDS), China continues to make progress in its healthcare reform efforts. However, new national drug lists and price caps designed to provide low-cost drugs to the masses, have at the same time raised questions about the program's economic impact on local and multinational pharmaceutical manufacturers.
To learn more about how China's healthcare reform package and how it may affect your company, we invite you to read Reed Smith Life Sciences Partner Gordon Schatz and ZS Associates Inc. consultant Patrick Nowlin's "Drugs for the Masses," recently published by China Business Review.… Continue Reading
The Chinese government officially launched the National Essential Drug System (NEDS) Aug. 18, 2009 at a press conference held by the State Council, during which it explained the concentration of specific drug purchases in urban and county grass-roots health institutions as the first step in the implementation of NEDS. By 2009, NEDS will be implemented in 30 percent of government-run urban and county health care institutions in each province, region, or municipality. NEDS could have significant implications for the marketing, sale, distribution, and pricing of drugs by multinational and Chinese pharmaceutical companies in China.… Continue Reading
At the 2nd Session of the 11th National People's Congress (NPC) convened on March 5, 2009, China' Premier Wen Jiabao confirmed the major contents of the healthcare reform in the 2009 Government Work Report. On January 21, 2009, the State Council approved the Opinions on Advancing Healthcare Reform and the Implementation Plan on Advancing Healthcare Reform 2009-2011 in principle. The opinions and the plan are expected to be published after the NPC session, with the Government Work Report representing the first government document that confirms work focuses in the coming healthcare reform program.
According to the Work Report, the Chinese government will spend US$124 billion (850 billion RMB) on healthcare reform between 2009 and 2011, including 331.8 billion RMB from the central government. The funds will be used in five primary areas 1) medical insurance, 2) essential medications, 3) basic healthcare service systems, 4) equal access to basic public health services, and 5) reform of public hospitals.… Continue Reading
