China looks to hone essential drug system

China's State Council outlined requirements on which drugs should be given priority for inclusion on the country's essential drug list, and recommended the creation of a system to monitor for drug shortages. The news was released in a circular on Wednesday.

The council emphasized that the list should prioritize drugs with established efficacy and safety, noting that the list should be evaluated every three years. The document reiterated that the list should prioritize drugs for chronic diseases including hypertension, diabetes and mental disorders. In August, an executive meeting of the State Council announced plans to expand the essential drug list and emphasized the use of essential drugs for chronic diseases (see “China Expands Essential Drugs List”)...