BEIJING - Medicine prices at public clinics have been notably reduced thanks to a policy thatpromotes basic medicine, an office of the State Council said Thursday.
Current price levels of basic medicine used by government-funded township hospitals andcommunity clinics have been reduced an average of 25 percent from the levels two years agowhen the policy started, according to a statement from the State Council office in charge ofreforming the country's healthcare program.
China has introduced a state list of basic medicine used by government-funded townshiphospitals and community clinics, which includes roughly 300 types of commonly-used Westernand traditional Chinese medicine.
Provincial governments will purchase basic medicine through public bidding and distribute themto local clinics.
These clinics must not raise the prices of listed medicine and in return, the government willprovide them with subsidies.
The policy has been implemented at all township and community clinics in all the 31 provinces,municipalities and autonomous regions in the Chinese mainland, the statement said.
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