In an attempt to bolster the country’s response to its rising cancer rates, regulators in China have decided to include 17 more oncology drugs in its national health insurance plan.
The country’s State Medical Insurance Administration announced this week that ahead of the decision, it worked with a range of pharmaceutical companies to lower the prices of drugs included in the national plan.
The newly approved medications included Merck’s KGaA, Roche’s Zelboraf and Bayer’s Stivarga.
Issues such as air pollution and high smoking rates have contributing to China’s rising cancer rates. The country said its aim is to help make treatments more affordable for patients.
Read the full Reuters report.
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