Chinese government updates national list of essential drugs

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China's updated national list of essential drugs includes 685 Western and traditional Chinese medicines, 165 more than the most recent update of the list in 2012, according to the National Health Commission.

The new list of essential drugs, the first update in over six years, focused more on cancer, pediatric and chronic disease drugs.

At Wednesday's press conference, Vice Minister of the National Health Commission Zeng Yixin said that among the newly added medicines, there are 12 anti-cancer drugs, 22 clinically urgent pediatric drugs and a new drug for hepatitis C.

"The new drug for hepatitis C is the only full oral, pan-genome, single tablet in our country and the first of its kind in the world," Zeng emphasized.

Chinese healthcare authorities vowed to make listed essential medicines accessible to the public at a reasonable price and with adequate supply. Officials said they will soon update the list of medicines covered by basic medical insurance schemes accordingly.

Moreover, according to Zeng, the national list of essential drugs will be adjusted on a timely basis to include newly approved, effective and reasonably priced medicines.

[Cover: Zeng Yixin, vice minister of the National Health Commission /CGTN Photo]