China will continue to ramp up volume-based procurement (VBP) policies that bring down drug and device prices for public hospitals with volume. Governmental agencies at the local and national levels coordinate drug prices via government-organized procurement programs that include VBP and pricing negotiations for inclusion on the National Reimbursable Drug List.

BEIJING – China has updated its national reimbursement drug list (NRDL) to include innovative drugs that it has recently approved, including homegrown cancer drugs and foreign imports. Industry experts said they believe it is a move to drive biotech innovation at home.