The Rising Influence of Rising Affluence

[DewDiligence]

China updates NRDL for first time in 8 years:

http://in.reuters.com/article/us-china-pharmaceuticals-idINKBN1620D7

The list includes 2,535 Western and traditional Chinese medicines, 339 more than the most recent update of the list in 2009, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security said in a statement on Thursday. The number of Western-style medicines included rose by 133 to 1,297.

…Inclusion on the NRDL means a drug is accessible via state insurance schemes, making it affordable to the mass market. Any new drug approved for sale since the last update of the list in 2009 was until now largely paid for out-of-pocket by patients. Drugs on the list can be reimbursed up to 80 percent depending on local implementation.

…The ministry said there were also 45 "negotiable" drugs that were expensive but that had high clinical value. It added there would be further discussion about these, after which a further list would be announced.