China Revises List of Reimbursed Drugs, Adds Over 300 Therapies

China’s Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security has expanded the list of drugs covered by state insurance, adding more than 300 drugs to the catalog since it was last updated in 2009.

The revised list includes drugs such as AstraZeneca’s lung cancer therapy Iressa as well as GlaxoSmithKline’s hepatitis B and HIV infection treatment Viread. In total, the catalog now covers 2,535 Western and Chinese treatments — up from 2,196 drugs in 2009, the ministry said.

Drugs on the list are eligible to receive reimbursement of up to 80 percent. Other therapies with steep prices, but significant value, are being considered for a future update of the catalog.