What’s new: China has added 74 new drugs to its government medical insurance list, which includes for the first time several expensive medications for rare diseases, allowing patients to access treatments at a fraction of their full price.
This year’s round of price-setting negotiations added 67 medications to the list, with prices slashed by an average of 61.71%, according to the National Healthcare Security Administration (NHSA).
Of the 67, seven are new treatments for rare diseases, including spinal muscular atrophy and Fabry disease.
A further seven medications were added without negotiations with drugmakers.
The background: The finalized list was issued after negotiations and changes that have been ongoing since early this year, and will be effective from January 2022.
China’s government-backed insurance plans cover most of its 1.4 billion people and can reimburse between 60% and 90% of treatment costs for common diseases.
Contact reporter Cai Xuejiao (xuejiaocai@caixin.com) and editor Heather Mowbray (heathermowbray@caixin.com)
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