Guideline issued to ease shortages of medicine

Online monitor network set to ensure supplies do not run out.

China has launched a multidepartmental effort to deal with occasional shortages of some prescription drugs for patients, the State Council Information Office said on Wednesday.

A guideline to improve the supply to prevent shortages was issued on Wednesday by nine government agencies, including the National Health and Family Planning Commission, the National Development and Reform Commission, and the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security.

China has about 3,000 drugs approved for common clinical use, with 130 of them occasionally in short supply, according to Zeng Yixin, deputy head of the National Health and Family Planning Commission.

"That's mainly due to the market gap between supply and demand," Zeng said.

"Thanks to joint efforts by all stakeholders, 50 of the 130 drugs are seeing normal supply levels again," he said, adding that the latest guideline requires interdepartmental cooperation.

"It aims to ensure that the drugs are available - and safe - for people," he said. "It helps coordinate the drug supply system with reforms in medical care and health insurance."

Earlier reports said lower-priced drugs with relatively low clinical demand usually run out of stock, seriously undermining medical options and risking patients' lives.