China has recently launched its first cross-border pharmaceutical centralized procurement platform, aiming to increase access to quality medicines and enhance healthcare cooperation with Southeast Asian countries.
The platform was inaugurated on January 9 in Fangchenggang, a coastal city in the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, marking a significant step in healthcare collaboration between China and ASEAN member countries.
Guided by China’s National Healthcare Security Administration, the platform will oversee the entire procurement process, including bulk purchasing and financial settlements for medicines and medical supplies.
Shi Zihai, deputy director of NHSA, mentioned at the launch that China has been promoting centralized, volume-based medicine procurement, with 10 rounds already held covering 435 types of medicines, including treatments for chronic diseases and cancer.
The initiative aims to strengthen ties with Belt and Road Initiative participants, especially ASEAN nations, offering new healthcare collaboration opportunities and improving the health of people in both regions.
The platform is also designed to boost the development of the International Medical Opening-up Pilot Zone in Fangchenggang, which focuses on medical innovation and healthcare partnerships, particularly with ASEAN countries and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.
Guangxi, leveraging its proximity to ASEAN countries, plans to develop the platform into a central hub for information exchange, technology sharing, trade facilitation, and talent development, according to Liao Pinhu, vice-chairman of the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region.
The platform aims to streamline the entry of Chinese medicines into ASEAN markets and explore innovative ways for cross-border drug procurement, addressing the needs of Guangxi residents seeking treatments abroad, insured individuals, and cross-border patients from ASEAN nations.
On the same day, experts and representatives from Thailand, Cambodia, Malaysia, and other ASEAN countries met with Chinese officials for a seminar on China-ASEAN pharmaceutical procurement.
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