Since 2007, Guangdong province’s medical facilities have utilized an online procurement system known as “Sunlight Purchase” for drug acquisitions. However, this system has inadvertently ignited an unprecedented pricing war, simultaneously exposing deep-rooted issues within drug pricing structures. A pivotal conference convened on March 31 by the Guangdong Drug Purchase Service Center assembled industry experts to deliberate on these pressing matters.
Data from the online platform revealed that 49,349 drug formulations and packages, which correspond to a mere 6,440 unique active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), are engaged in online pricing competition. Amid claims of 1,339 “new drugs” never before sold in Guangdong, a detailed analysis by a specialist panel uncovered that a mere 35 drugs were genuinely new to the region.
Alarmingly, statistics indicated that 70% of the drugs were labeled as “abnormally high-priced.” Yet, negotiations have proven effective, achieving a 90% price reduction for 13 drugs. These findings underscore the necessity for a reevaluation of current drug pricing mechanisms and the exploration of more equitable solutions.
