Ministry Redefines Subsidized MedicinesA new list of medicines covered by government-subsidized medical care has been released by the Ministry of Labor and Social Security, China Daily reported today.Patients who rely on government subsidized-medical care are limited to using these approved medicines, unless they are willing to pay for those not on the list. "The medicines on the list are efficient and affordable," said Wang Dongjin, vice-minister of Labor and Social Security. The medicine list was drafted by the State Council, and seven ministries, including the ministries of Finance and Health, as well as the State Drug Administration and the State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, also contributed to the list. Western medicine and Chinese traditional medicine on the list have been divided into two classes, the report said. The 327 class A western medicine are relatively cheap, easy to get and effective in curing common illnesses, while the 586 class B western medicine are more expensive. There are 135 class A Chinese traditional medicine and 440 class B on the list. All class A medicines must be supplied at the same low price in hospitals to ensure that all people on government subsidies can get the medicine they need and can afford. For class B medicines, provincial governments are allowed to increase or decrease medicine prices by 15 percent according to their own economic conditions. |
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