China needs systematic reforms to rectify the chaotic medicine
market and ensure affordable medicare for the average citizens, Ma
Kai, minister in charge of the National Development and Reform
Commission (NDRC), said on Wednesday.
Medicines are still over-priced despite several price
reductions, Ma said at a press conference held on the sidelines of
the Fifth Session of the Tenth National People's Congress.
The price cuts failed to provide the people with enough benefits
and to put the chaotic drug market in order, he said.
Ma said the government should take more measures to change the
system of hospitals being supported by medicine profits, to address
the problems in drug production and circulation, and to correct the
irregularities in approving new medicines.
"The drug market is actually very chaotic in pricing, and many
medicines are changed into other names to avoid price reductions,"
he said.
The incidence of such irregularities were reduced as the
government stepped up supervision over the drug market after Zheng
Xiaoyu, former head of the State Food and Drug Administration, was
removed from his post for charges of corruption.
Zheng failed to properly supervise the drug market, abused the
administration's drug approval authority by taking bribes, and
turned a blind eye to malpractice by relatives and subordinate
officials, according to the Communist Party of China's Central
Commission for Discipline Inspection.
(Xinhua News Agency March 7, 2007)