The National Healthcare Security Administration (NHSA) in China has released a list of 131 drugs that are included in the National Reimbursement Drug List (NRDL) but have seen little trade volume. The move aims to ensure the basic medication needs of insured patients by monitoring the production and supply of these underutilized drugs. According to the NHSA, some of these drugs have not been traded on provincial pharmaceutical procurement platforms for extended periods or have low trading volumes. Others have been marked as “discontinued” in the national medical insurance information business coding standard database for a long time.
NHSA’s Requirements for MAHs
To address these issues, the NHSA has required the marketing authorization holders (MAHs) of the drugs on the “List” to submit an enterprise commitment letter and a drug basic information form. These documents should include relevant explanatory materials. MAHs are instructed to mail the hard copies of these documents to the NHSA before February 28, 2025. Additionally, they must send the electronic version of the complete set of materials to the designated email address: [email protected].
Implications and Next Steps
This initiative by the NHSA underscores the importance of ensuring the availability and accessibility of essential medications for insured patients. By monitoring the production and supply of low – volume drugs, the administration aims to prevent potential shortages and ensure that patients can continue to receive the treatments they need. MAHs are expected to comply with these requirements to maintain the integrity of the NRDL and support the broader goals of China’s healthcare system.-Fineline Info & Tech
Leave a Reply