China's healthcare security authority on Tuesday announced a series of measures to encourage novel drug development, including the creation of a commercial insurance catalog for innovative medicines that patients could be reimbursed for.
Jointly released by National Medical Insurance Administration (NHSA) and National Health Commission, the list features highly innovative drugs plus those with significant clinical value or substantial benefits to patients, which are not covered by the national basic medical insurance scheme.
"This year, the National Healthcare Security Administration has guided Guangxi in utilizing the China-ASEAN medical procurement platform to actively promote the entry of domestically produced drugs and medical consumables into ASEAN countries. Meanwhile, it has innovatively established a convenient channel for purchasing drugs both domestically and internationally. Going forward, the NHSA will support more regions with favorable geographical locations to build platforms for trading innovative drugs," said Wang Xiaoning, director of the department of pharmaceutical pricing, bidding and procurement at NHSA.
"Several measures have also been proposed to encourage commercial insurance to increase investment in innovative drugs. We will also support innovative drug enterprises to take advantage of the strengths of Hong Kong and Macao to promote Chinese innovative drugs to the world. To support the overseas sales of homegrown innovative drugs, the administration plans to align with international practices and implement confidential pricing negotiations on a voluntary basis for pharmaceutical companies, particularly for drugs listed in the commercial catalog. We will explore a more rigorous price confidentiality mechanism," he continued.
Measures announced to encourage development of innovative drugs
A major port in northern Venezuela came under U.S. airstrikes in the early hours of January 3, which caused extensive damage to civilian infrastructure, destroyed critical medical supplies in a warehouse, and severely impacted centuries-old cultural heritage sites, according to local residents.
The La Guaira Port, a vital hub for imports that support daily life in the region, was heavily damaged during the attack.
Large quantities of medical supplies stored at the port were destroyed. A historic cultural building dating back for some 300 years was also badly damaged by the bombardment.
Residents living near the port recalled the terrifying scenes as explosions shook nearby neighborhoods.
Humberto Bolivar, who lives in a community separated from the port by only a main road, said the blast waves shattered his home's windows, while stray shrapnel struck the water tank on his roof. According to reports, three missiles were fired at the port that night.
Bolivar said that beyond material losses, he is most concerned about the psychological impact on his children, who remain too frightened to leave their home days after the attack.
"The United States invaded our country. The children were frightened. This is not good for them, because it leaves some children with psychological trauma. They do not want to go to school or leave the house, because they are afraid that something worse might happen. We truly do not want this to happen to our country," he said.
Apart from civilian facilities, local cultural heritage site was also affected.
The La Guaira state government building, a structure with nearly 300 years of history and once served as the site of Venezuela's first national customs office, was struck by the force of the explosions.
Windows of the building were shattered, and furniture scattered across the floor.
"As people of La Guaira, we feel deep pain. Our cultural heritage has been bombed. We are living in constant anxiety and suffering, and life can no longer be the same as it was before," said a local named Henry Cumares.
The U.S. side has claimed the airstrikes targeted warehouses allegedly used to store narcotics. However, locals refuted such accusation.
"According to what Donald Trump said, they bombed this place using the excuse that the warehouses here were used to store drugs at the port. But based on the video released by our governor, these warehouses that were burned contained medicine for kidney patients and foods. Many people depend on these supplies to survive. I think the bombing is extremely despicable," said a local resident named Alejandro Capriles.
US strike hits Venezuelan port, wrecking medical supplies, heritage building
