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The Essential Medicine List Proposal for Healthcare Facilities: A Pricing Declaration

The Ministry of Health is seeking public feedback on the draft circular for the issuance of an essential drugs list to be used at healthcare facilities with declared drug prices.

Administrator

1 September, 2024

This draft decree sets out the principles and criteria for constructing a list of drugs subject to price declaration, as well as the economic and technical characteristics of the drugs on the list (detailed names, specific varieties, and basic characteristics) and the issuance of a list of essential drugs used at medical examination and treatment facilities that are subject to price declaration.

Principles and criteria for constructing a list of drugs subject to price declaration

This draft decree clearly states the principles and criteria for constructing a list of drugs subject to price declaration. Accordingly, drugs on the list of essential drugs issued by the Minister of Health and used at medical examination and treatment facilities fall into one of the following cases:

a – Belong to the list of drugs within the payment scope of the health insurance fund as prescribed by the Ministry of Health.

b – Drugs that have won bids at medical facilities.

c – Drugs that do not fall under cases a and b above but are used in medical examination and treatment facilities.

The draft decree also stipulates the economic and technical characteristics of essential drugs subject to price declaration, including the following information:

For essential chemical drugs, vaccines, and biologics: Name of active substance/ingredient, concentration/content, dosage form, and route of administration.

For essential traditional medicines: Ingredients and route of administration.

List of Drugs Subject to Price Declaration

The draft decree proposes a specific list of essential drugs used at medical examination and treatment facilities that are subject to price declaration, including:

I. Chemical drugs: comprising 458 active ingredients/components such as Acetic Acid, Acetylcysteine, Aciclovir, Amiodarone Hydrochloride, Amoxicillin, Cephalexin, Chloramphenicol, etc.

II. Chemical drugs containing herbal ingredients: comprising 24 groups of active ingredients/components such as Danshen, Notoginseng, Borneol/Camphor, Eucalyptol, Ginger Oil, Tangerine Peel Oil, Peppermint Oil, Lemon Balm Oil, etc.

III. Biologics: comprising 7 types of active ingredients/components: Factor VIII Concentrate, Factor IX Complex (Coagulation Factors II, VII, IX, and X), Albumin, Human Normal Immunoglobulin, Antirabies Serum, Antitetanus Serum, and Antivenom Serum.

IV. Vaccines: 22 types, including the BCG vaccine for tuberculosis prevention; measles vaccine; hepatitis B vaccine; tetanus vaccine, etc.

V. Traditional medicines: comprising 220 types of ingredients, divided into 12 groups: 1 – Group of medicines for dispelling pathogenic factors from the exterior of the body; 2 – Group of medicines for clearing away heat, detoxifying, dissipating rashes, and promoting urination; 3 – Group of medicines for dispelling wind and eliminating dampness; 4 – Group of medicines for moistening the intestines, promoting defecation, eliminating food retention, harmonizing the stomach, and strengthening the spleen; 5 – Group of medicines for calming the mind and stabilizing the emotions; 6 – Group of medicines for treating diseases of the lung system; 7 – Group of medicines for treating diseases related to Yang and Qi; 8 – Group of medicines for treating diseases related to Yin and Blood; 9 – Group of medicines for regulating menstruation and stabilizing pregnancy; 10 – Group of medicines for treating diseases of the five sense organs; 11 – Group of medicines for external use; 12 – Group of other traditional medicines.

Han Dong