BEIJING, Oct. 11 (Xinhua) -- China will strengthen monitoring of the supply and prices of drugs in shortage, according to a guideline issued by the General Office of the State Council.
The guideline said a supply monitoring mechanism will be established to enhance coordination between multiple information platforms, noting the information concerning the registration, production, procurement and prices of the drugs' raw materials will be shared through the mechanism.
It added that the procurement prices of the drugs in shortage should be monitored on a regular basis so as to provide early warnings of abnormal price fluctuations.
It also stressed that measures including credit rating penalties and legal punishment should be strengthened to ensure stable drug prices, adding that the reserve mechanism of the drugs should be improved.
China has taken effective measures to ensure the supply of drugs in shortage, the guideline said, noting the supervision of the drugs' procurement, use, storage and prices should be stepped up.
