In a major boost for healthcare accessibility, China has updated its national medical insurance catalog, adding 91 new drugs—from life-saving tumor treatments to cutting-edge therapies for rare diseases. 🩺 The move, announced Thursday, aims to slash medication prices by an average of 63%, saving patients an estimated $7 billion in 2025 alone. 💸
What’s New? 🌟
The updated list prioritizes medications for chronic conditions like diabetes, psychiatric care, and anti-infective drugs. Notably, 43 outdated or underused drugs were phased out to make room for more effective alternatives. This marks the seventh straight year of reforms, expanding total covered medications to 3,159.
Why It Matters 📈
💡 Rare diseases: Expanded coverage offers hope for patients with conditions often overlooked by global pharma.
💡 Chronic care: Millions managing diabetes or heart issues gain affordable, long-term solutions.
💡 Pediatric focus: More kids’ medications now qualify for insurance support.
The reforms take effect nationwide on January 1, 2025, aligning with China’s push to build a more inclusive healthcare system. 🌍✨
