In 2020, Guizhou's provincial capital Guiyang started centralized procurement of drugs and helped residents to save 255.59 million yuan ($39.52 million) of medication expenses.
So far, Guiyang's medical institutions have purchased 72.28 million doses of drugs for treating cardiovascular diseases, mental illnesses, tumors and diabetes, as well as antiviral drugs and antibiotics.
With centralized procurement, drug prices have been significantly reduced. For example, in 2020, Guiyang residents saved a whopping 49.61 million yuan on Atorvastatin, a drug for treating cardiovascular diseases.
