Shanghai – China’s healthcare regulator on February 9 dismissed concerns about the efficacy of off-patent medicines distributed through public hospitals, stating that an investigation found no substantiated quality issues.
In an interview with the state-backed People’s Daily, the National Healthcare Security Administration (NHSA) affirmed that all approved generic drugs undergo strict evaluation to ensure they match the quality and efficacy of their original counterparts. The regulator also emphasized post-approval supervision.
The investigation was launched in January after local media reported that doctors in Beijing and Shanghai raised doubts about the effectiveness of lower-cost generics used in public hospitals, suggesting they did not perform as well as Western-branded drugs.
However, after consulting medical experts and hospital heads, the NHSA concluded that these concerns were based on “subjective feelings” rather than scientific evidence. It specifically examined reports regarding anaesthetics and laxatives but found no proof of reduced efficacy.
China introduced its bulk-buy drug procurement program in 2018 to drive down pharmaceutical costs. The scheme has expanded nationwide, covering off-patent blockbusters from Western pharmaceutical giants and domestically produced generics.
Despite lower profit margins, many drugmakers continue to participate in the program, given the opportunity to supply public hospitals in high volumes.