China finally releases updated NRDL

China's Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security (MoHRSS) released its long-anticipated update to the national reimbursement drug list, adding 339 new Western and traditional Chinese medicines to the NRDL. The ministry said its expert committee also identified 45 high-cost drugs with higher clinical value, for which it will negotiate pricing with the manufacturer before inclusion on the list.

MoHRSS said it will announce the 45 drugs after it has confirmed if the sponsor intends to negotiate. Mike Dethick, managing director of the R&D-based Pharmaceutical Association Committee (RDPAC), said in a blog post that MoHRSS will now be proactively involved in negotiations for the NRDL, a mechanism that would move price negotiations to a national level from the existing province-based system...