China Implements Dual-Channel Policy to Improve Patient Access to Drugs

Published on January 19, 2023

China’s new dual-channel policy will have a serious impact on how manufacturers deal with pharmacies and hospitals in the country. Industry experts Lillian Li, Simon Yin, Jodie Zhou, and Fan Chen outline the details of this policy, and advise manufacturers on how to adapt their strategies accordingly.

With the initial establishment of the National Reimbursement Drug List (NRDL) annual update mechanism, new drugs now have the chance to enter the NRDL soon after launch. However, as the main channel for drug sales, hospital formulary inclusion may be an access barrier at the regional level, resulting in delayed patient access.

Meanwhile, although innovative drugs available in direct-to-patient (DTP) pharmacies are increasing, patients may not be able to obtain public reimbursement for drugs purchased outside of the hospitals in many regions across China. Therefore, even with faster NRDL inclusion, patients still face the challenge of accessing…

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