Heilongjiang Province releases essential drug list
Shanghai. May 16. INTERFAX-CHINA - Heilongjiang Provincial Health Department has issued an essential drug list for the province, adding 119 items to the existing national list, the provincial government announced May 16.
China last updated its national essential drug list for grassroots medical institutions in 2009. Revised every three years, the list is comprised of 307 drugs that qualify for reimbursement under the national medical insurance scheme.
Provincial health authorities issue additional essential drug lists which take into account local needs and customs.
Heilongjiang's 119 additions include 64 western medicines and 55 traditional Chinese medicines (TCM) - primarily drugs for cerebro-cardiovascular and digestive diseases, hypertension and colds, the announcement said.
The additions do not include oncology drugs due to their higher cost, according to a May 16 report by Harbin Daily. No oncology drugs are presently included on the national essential drug list.
- MS