From Chinese Press

Reform drug-pricing system

(China Daily)
Updated: 2010-05-20 08:10

The government's failure to reform the healthcare system is responsible for the unreasonably high prices of drugs, say an article on qianlong.com. Excerpts:

A bottle of pills priced at 15.5 yuan can cost as high as 213 yuan after a hospital hikes the price through several intermediates charges. This is a rip off but it is set under the online bid (or drug-pricing) system.

The current drug-pricing system is full of problems. Local government and hospitals enjoy virtual monopoly in the system. As a result, it's impossible for medical officials and doctors to protect patients' interests even if they want to.

The medicine-pricing system should be reformed and a fair health system set up in which patients, hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, insurance firms and local governments can exert some if not equal amount of influence.

(China Daily 05/20/2010 page9)