China moves to curb drug prices
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2006-06-01 09:50
China's drug producers are now required to print the recommended retail
prices on their packaging, which is one of the country's effort to halt soaring
drug and medical service prices.
The new policy was issued Wednesday in
a circular by the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of
Health and six other government departments.
The circular says the
government will readjust the fixed drug prices and tighten its supervision of
prices determined by the market.
In an experimental measure, some of the
drugs will have their prices fixed by the government at the factory gate.
The government will also seek to readjust the prices for medical
services and standardize the services of hospitals.
Major public
hospitals will be banned from selling drugs at prices 15 percent higher than
their purchase prices.
Soaring drug and medical service prices have
become a major social problem in China in recent years. The government has made
efforts to improve the situation, but with little success.
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