Overseas checks of drugs to increase

China will intensify its inspections at the overseas production sites of drugs and medical equipment intended for export to China to ensure safety, the State Drug Administration, China's top drug regulator, said on Thursday.

Last year, Chinese drug inspectors conducted on-site inspections of 48 overseas pharmaceutical companies - more than six times the number conducted in 2016 - according to the administration's Center for Food and Drug Inspection.

Inspectors also conducted overseas site inspections on 24 manufacturers of medical equipment, an increase of 26 percent from 2016, the center said.