In China, cancer is one of the top killers. And having cheaper and easier access to anti-cancer medicine has become a government priority to ensure quality of life. During his visit to Shanghai, Premier Li Keqiang visited a pharmaceutical company and stressed wider access. Sun Ye has the story.  

While touring the labs of Swiss company Shanghai Roche Pharmaceuticals, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang asked about standards and if drug prices could be lowered. He hoped the company will be able to provide more of such drugs at a low cost, so as to benefit more people. This was one of the issues mentioned during Two Sessions in March.

LI KEQIANG CHINESE PREMIER "We aim to further bring down overall import tariffs, with slashing rates for important day-to-day consumer goods. We also plan to phase out tariffs for pharmaceuticals, especially the much-needed ones that fight cancer."

There is a high demand for anti-cancer drugs. The National Cancer Center says there are 4.3 million new cancer patients every year, with 2.8 million deaths annually.

WU WENHUI DIRECTOR OF DRUG ADMINISTRATION SHANGHAI MUNICIPAL COMMISSION OF HEALTH AND FAMILY PLANNING "The demand for imported anti-tumour drugs is very high because China has a high incidence of and death rate from cancer. Domestically-made drugs are very few. There are many generic ones, but they are not as good as the original ones. Usually it costs several thousands to tens of thousands of yuan to buy the real drugs, and patients could pay hundreds of thousands of yuan for one course of treatment."

The Shanghai Roche Pharmaceuticals is first foreign joint venture in Zhangjiang Inno-park. Premier Li during his visit said opening up is conducive to development and beneficial to the people.

LI KEQIANG CHINESE PREMIER "I also want to emphasize that opening up needs to be a two-way street, just as it takes both sides to paddle a boat to move forward. Otherwise, it may just keep spinning around in the same place."

Four major anti-tumour drugs by Shanghai Roche have been included into China's national insurance catalogue. The company has successfully developed medicine for Hepatitis C, and is now working to target Hepatitis B, one of the most challenging diseases to cure. Sun Ye, CGTN.