National Medical Insurance Administration: More than 50 rare disease drugs have been included in the list of medical insurance drugs
The National Medical Insurance Administration recently announced that 26 rare disease drugs have been included in the medical insurance drug catalog through negotiations for admission to the medical insurance catalog, with an average price reduction of over 50%. By adding other drug access methods, more than 50 of the 75 rare disease drugs approved for marketing in China have been included in the list of medical insurance drugs.
In recent years, the National Medical Insurance Administration has optimized the admission process and timely included rare disease drugs that meet the conditions in the medical insurance drug catalog. The 2023 National Medical Insurance Drug Catalog Adjustment Work Plan does not set a time limit for the application of rare disease drugs. Drugs included in the national encouraged generic drug catalog can apply for the current year's medical insurance catalog, further expanding the access scope of rare disease drugs.
In terms of ensuring the supply of drugs for rare diseases, the National Medical Insurance Administration and the National Health Commission have successively issued relevant documents, meeting the reasonable needs of negotiating drug supply guarantees and clinical adaptation through two channels: designated medical institutions and designated retail pharmacies. As of the end of June 2023, 229000 designated hospitals and pharmacies across the country have been equipped with catalog negotiation drugs, including rare disease drugs.
It is understood that the National Medical Insurance Administration will continue to improve the negotiation system for medical insurance access, taking into account factors such as clinical needs and the affordability of medical insurance funds. More rare disease drugs that meet the conditions will be included in the medical insurance drug catalog according to procedures, further improving the level of rare disease drug protection.