The National Healthcare Security Administration (NHSA) announced on September 16 the commencement of the expert review process for this year’s National Reimbursement Drug List (NRDL) update. The three-day event, held in Beidaihe, Qinhuangdao, Hebei province, will conclude on September 22. This process is a crucial step in determining which drugs will be included in the updated NRDL for 2025.
Expert Composition and Review Criteria
Experts participating in the review process are drawn from diverse fields, including pharmacy, clinical medicine, economics, medical insurance review, and management. They are tasked with evaluating shortlisted drugs and categorizing them into four groups: those to be directly listed, those requiring negotiation or competitive bidding before listing, those to be de-listed, and those to be handled under the rules for pre-existing NRDL drugs requiring renegotiated contracts. Additionally, these experts will determine the specifications, reference drugs, and medical insurance prices to be applied during negotiations with drug companies.
NRDL Drug Selection Update
In the first week of September, the NHSA revealed that a total of 344 drugs had been selected from 490 company filings for potential inclusion in this year’s NRDL. Last week, the list was slightly adjusted, reducing the number of selected drugs to 343 after the removal of metronidazole vaginal expansion suppository. This adjustment reflects the ongoing refinement of the drug selection process to ensure the most effective and appropriate drugs are included in the updated NRDL.-Fineline Info & Tech
