SHANGHAI (Reuters) – Authorities in China are investigating reports of quality problems with some drugs eligible for distribution through the country’s public hospitals, the National Healthcare Security Administration said.
In a notice, issued early this week, the agency said it would lead a team to Shanghai to gather feedback on the country’s drug bulk-buy procurement programmes that focus on off-patent medicines.
It said the agency “attached great importance” to reports that some drugs purchased through bulk-procurement might have quality problems.
China rolled out the bulk-buy programme in 2018 in an attempt to negotiate lower prices from drug manufacturers and has since expanded it to many parts of the country.
The drugs on the list include off-patent blockbusters made by Western pharmaceutical giants as well as generics produced by local players.
While the scheme puts pressure on margins, many drugmakers participate in the tenders to supply public hospitals in large volumes.
(Reporting by Andrew Silver; editing by Barbara Lewis)
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