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Cost of medicine cut at local clinics
By Cai Wenjun |
January 7, 2009, Wednesday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
PATIENTS receiving treatment at any of Shanghai's 232 neighborhood health centers can now buy medicine at cost price, under a policy that will save people an estimated 165 million yuan (US$24.13 million) in pharmaceutical costs each year, said the Shanghai Health Bureau yesterday.
A total of 166 types of common medicine, 87 Western and 79 traditional Chinese, will be covered by the discount.
Normally, hospitals can add a maximum of 15 percent to the purchase price of drugs. Their loss of profit will be covered by government subsidies, local health officials said.
The policy has been launched to make better use of local medical resources and encourage patients to have treatment for small and common complaints at neighborhood health centers.
After pilot programs in neighborhood health centers in Songjiang and Changning districts in 2007, the bureau allowed patients at 1,760 rural health clinics to buy common medicines at cost price in October last year, which led to a 10-percent spike in patient numbers and savings of 1.88 million yuan in medicine fees, officials said.
A total of 166 types of common medicine, 87 Western and 79 traditional Chinese, will be covered by the discount.
Normally, hospitals can add a maximum of 15 percent to the purchase price of drugs. Their loss of profit will be covered by government subsidies, local health officials said.
The policy has been launched to make better use of local medical resources and encourage patients to have treatment for small and common complaints at neighborhood health centers.
After pilot programs in neighborhood health centers in Songjiang and Changning districts in 2007, the bureau allowed patients at 1,760 rural health clinics to buy common medicines at cost price in October last year, which led to a 10-percent spike in patient numbers and savings of 1.88 million yuan in medicine fees, officials said.
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