CHINA HEALTH SCIENCES NEWSLETTER
Vol. 3 , No.5 - March 7, 2002
TOPICS THIS ISSUE:
- Japan to Donate 1.148 Billion Yen Aid to Chinese Program
- First Teenager Clinic in China
- SETC Approves Price Cuts of Three AIDS Drugs
- Recent AIDS Drug Price Cuts Inadequate
- Record Advertising in the Pharmaceutical Industry in 2001
- Chinese Honey Pulled Off Shelves
- China Doctors Call on Government to Manufacture AIDS Drugs
- MOH Issues New Cosmetology Regulations
- Regulations on Malpractice Adopted
- Despite Poor Year in 2001, Outlook Remains Positive
- List of China GMP Facilities (Continued)
Japan to Donate 1.148 Billion Yen Aid to Chinese Program
The Japanese government announced that it will donate medical equipment worth 1.148 billion Yen (US $10 million) to hospitals in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality for use in maternal and child health care.
Recently in Beijing, Long Yongtu, chief negotiator of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation (MOFTEC) and Japanese Ambassador to China Koreshige Anami, signed the notes exchanged between the governments of both countries. Although the government of the People's Republic of China has made great efforts to improve the health care services for women and children, those in less developed areas of west and central China still do not have easy access to medical services.
(Source: Xinhua News Agency)
First Teenager Clinic in China
China's first medical clinic designed especially for teenagers opened in Beijing recently.
The clinic, which is attached to Beijing No. 2 Hospital, has departments of gynecology, maternity, urology, pediatrics and psychological consultation.
In addition, the clinic will also offer educational services to people under the age of 23 on the basics of physiological growth, pregnancy and safe sex.
China presently has 300 million people between the ages of 10 and 24. Curiously, studies show that the present generation of teenagers experience sexual maturity one year earlier than teenagers born 10 years ago.
It is generally recognized that parents and other relevant social sectors lack adequate preparations for providing for the changes that teenagers undergo.
(Source: Xinhua News Agency)
SETC Approves Price Cuts of Three AIDS Drugs
The China State Economic and Trade Commission (SETC) has reduced the retail prices of three imported AIDS drugs.
Crixivan, Stocrin and Combivir have all been cut in an attempt by the SETC to allow for disenfranchised AIDS sufferers access to AIDS treatment.
The lower prices were effective as of February 10. Now, a bottle of Crixivan with 90 400mg capsules is now sold for RMB 570, or US $69. A bottle of Crixivan with 360 200mg capsules is now RMB 1,100, or US $133.
A bottle of Stocrin with 90 200mg capsules now has a retail price of RMB 990, or US $120, and a bottle of Combivir with 60 450mg capsules is now RMB 1,800, or US $217.
Multinational drug companies have agreed to the cuts in order to secure market penetration and intellectual property protection.
(Source: World Markets Analysis)
Recent AIDS Drug Price Cuts Inadequate
Aids workers and patients in China have said that the recent government order to cut the price of AIDS drugs by 70 percent does not help sufferers.
Whereas previously an AIDS sufferer in China had to pay about RMB 10,000 a month for modern AIDS treatment, now the price is lowered to approximately RMB 2,000 to 3,000.
However, Dr. Gao, a retired gynecologist in Henan, a hot-spot province for HIV sufferers, said that the prices are still inaccessible and that the medicine should just be given to them.
Some people, with already more than average incomes, will benefit from the cuts. An unnamed Beijing man said the price cuts were a huge relief after his parents were burdened by paying over RMB 152,000 a year for his medicine.
A health care consultant in Beijing said that the price is still out of reach for people working for State-owned enterprises and that the treatment should be dropped to RMB 50 per month.
A company spokeswoman from GlaxoSmithKline said that although the company voluntarily cut its Combivir prices, taxes and distributor and hospital charges, that sometimes reach 40%, will likely increase the price again.
(Source: South China Morning Post)
Record Advertising in the Pharmaceutical Industry in 2001
The China pharmaceutical industry spent record amounts on advertising in 2001.
Results from the latest AC Nielsen Media International survey report that in the year 2001, advertising revenue in China grew nearly 16 percent. It also showed that Chinese advertisers spent a total of US $11.2 billion, in second place only to Japan in the Asian area.
Advertising for health food and vitamins was the product where the highest amount was spent on advertising, with a total of US $1.2 billion. However, it also was the only product that experienced a drop in advertising spending.
Over-the-counter drugs were the product where the second highest amount was spent on advertising and cough and cold relief medications ranked fourth.
All top ten advertisers in China were domestic manufacturers. Eight of the top ten were in the pharmaceutical industry, with Shenzhen Taitai Pharmaceutical Industry Co. spending the most. Shenzhen Haiwang Pharmaceutical Co., in eighth place, spent 21 times more than it had in the previous year.
(Source: ChinaOnline)
Profitable China GMP Facility for Sale
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Chinese Honey Pulled Off Shelves
Chinese honey has been removed from the shelves of Bolton, U.K. stores over concern over the use of veterinary drugs in China.
The National Food Standards Agency found that almost half of the samples tested of the Chinese honey contained residue from the medicine Streptomycin. Other tests revealed traces of chloramphenicol, an antibiotic that can cause a serious blood disorder.
The agency advised that all jars of Chinese and blended honey be pulled off the shelf, regardless of the brand, as it believes that the problem may be present in all Chinese honey.
(Source: UK Newsquest)
China Doctors Call on Government to Manufacture AIDS Drugs
Chinese doctors have requested that the government allow for the local manufacturing of AIDS drugs as soon as possible.
Despite recent cuts to the prices of drugs manufactured by GlaxoSmithkline, Merck and Bristol-Myers Squibb, many doctors and other caregivers still believe the prices are still too high.
A doctor at one of the main AIDS hospitals in China said "It's a big drop, but far from satisfactory for some patients." He also believes that China should manufacture its own AIDS drugs as soon as possible, referring to the ultra-low prices of US $50 for the monthly medical treatment of a sufferer in Brazil or India.
(Source: AFX-Asia)
MOH Issues New Cosmetology Regulations
The Ministry of Health (MOH) in China has released regulations controlling medical cosmetology. The Regulations on Services in Medical Cosmetology were released on February 21 in an attempt to improve standards in the newly burgeoning sector of cosmetology in China.
In the past, some institutions have been found to offering medical cosmetic services without proper facilities or qualified personnel. Some beauty salons would even actively hire doctors to perform cosmetic surgery.
The new regulations state that surgery such as liposuction and breast enlargements must be performed at designated institutions and that no medical cosmetic surgery can be performed on under-age patients or on patients with mental disabilities, unless with the consent of the guardian.
(Source: World Markets Analysis)
Regulations on Malpractice Adopted
In the 55th executive meeting of the State Council, presided over by Premier Zhu Rongji, the draft regulations for settling medical malpractice cases was examined and adopted in principle. Sources in the meeting said that the issue has caused some concern lately, as it affects the legal interests of patients, hospitals and medical staff.
(Source: Xinhua News Agency)
Despite Poor Year in 2001, Outlook Remains Positive
Despite 2001 being referred to as the least stable year for the China pharmaceutical industry, there are many signs of improvement in the burgeoning sector.
The State Drug Administration of China prepared a report explaining the pharmaceutical industry in the previous year.
Among the leading 50 healthcare manufacturers ranked by product sales in the year 2001, 16 enterprises were Sino-foreign joint ventures, 8 enterprises were "keep fit" product manufacturers (including teas, and similar quasi-drugs) and the rest were large and medium State Owned Enterprises (SOEs).
Chemical drugs made up 46% of all retail drug sales, traditional Chinese medicine took up 39% and "keep fit" products accounted to just 15%, giving up a large market share to chemical drugs.
The turbulence that many industry analysts attributed to the pharmaceutical industry was mostly due to regulatory changes, including cutbacks to the state health insurance system, drug classification reforms and new legislation. It is hoped that many of the people now excluded from the state health insurance system will now contribute to over-the-counter retail drug sector.
In conclusion, many analysts and industry professionals believe that although a efficiently regulated retail pharmaceutical sector is still being created in China, the government's efforts are not far from yielding fruit. The government is committed to creating the regulatory infrastructure needed to sell drugs from retail outlets and is using many western countries as a model for such changes. The consumer trend from "keep-fit" products to over-the-counter drugs is also reassuring for many manufacturers.
(Source: World Markets Analysis)
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List of China GMP Facilities (Continued)
Name of Enterprise | Certified Scope |
751. Huayu (Wuxi) Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. | High dose injection |
752. Wuxi Huahong Group Pharmaceutical Company | High dose injection, Oral solid preparation |
753. Zhejiang Yadong Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. | Oral liquid |
754. Zhejiang Yadong Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. | Tablet, Capsule, Granule |
755. Tianjin Biaiphy Co., Ltd. | High dose injection |
756.Jessy Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. | Freeze-dried powder-injection |
757. Huabei Aventis Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. | Powder-injection |
758. Zhejiang Hansheng Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. | Human interferon injection |
759. Byer Pharmaceutical and Health Co., Ltd. | Tablet, Capsule, Plaster |
760. Jiangxi Traditional Chinese Medicine Factory | Tablet, Capsule |
761. Yantai Yongchang Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. | Suppository, Ointment |
762. Beijing Younite Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. | Tablet, Capsule, Granule |
763. Henan Lianhuatang Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. | Bulk (Glucose ) |
764. Beijing Shuanghe Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. | Granule, Tablet |
765. Allergan (Hangzhou) Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. | Eye-drops |
766. Guangzhou Traditional Chinese Medicine 1st Factory | Tablet, Capsule |
767. Hangzhou Yishute Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. | Lotion |
768. Eisai (Suzhou) Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. | Tablet |
769. Hangzhou Jiuyuan Genetic-engineering Co., Ltd. | Injection |
770.Hangzhou Jiuyuan Genetic-engineering Co., Ltd. | Injection |
771.Shanxi Xian Pharmaceutical Factory | Tablet, Capsule, Granule |
772. Hainan Hailing Pharmaceutical Factory | Freeze-dried powder-injection |
773. Haikou Pharmaceutical Factory | Powder-injection |
774. Hangzhou Tianyuan Bio-pharmaceutical Company | Vaccine |
775. Qilu Pharmaceutical Factory | RhG-CSF |
776. Zhuhai Jinsha Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. | Tablet, Granule, Oral liquid |
777. Shenzhen Nanfang Yingxin Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. | Capsule, Tablet |
778. Qilu Antibioticos Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. | Bulk |
779. Hubei Zhongtian Hengdi Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. | Capsule, Tablet |
780. Hangzhou Senofi-Mingsheng Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. | Capsule |
781. Taifei (Jiangxi) Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. | Eye-drops |
782. Nanjing Shenghe Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. | Tablet, Capsule, Granule |
783. Suzhou Dongrui Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. | Tablet, Capsule, Granule, Bulk , Powder-injection |
784. Changzhou Siyao Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. | Tablet, Capsule |
785. Shanghai Roche Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. | Powder-injection |
786. Henan Nanyang Pukang Group Chemical Pharmaceutical Factory | Freeze-dried powder-injection |
787. Hefei Zhaofeng Keda Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. | Bulk, Freeze-dried powder-injection |
788. Guizhou Yikang Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. | Capsule, Tablet |
789. Yongxin Pharmaceutical (Kunshan) Co., Ltd. | Tablet, Capsule, Cream |
790. Zhejiang Kangenbei Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. | Low dose injection |
791. Yongguang Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. | Eye-drops, Bulk |
792. Beijing Sanyuan Genetic-engineering Co., Ltd. | Freeze-dried powder-injection |
793.Fujian Jiandong Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. | Capsule |
794. Fujian Jiandong Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. | Tablet |
795. Shanghai Sanwei Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. | Bulk |
796.Eli Lilly Suzhou Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. | Capsule |
797.Eli Lilly Suzhou Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. | Granule, Suspension |
798.Shenzhen Jiuxin Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. | Powder-injection |
799. Shenzhen Huashengyuan Genetic-engineering Development Co., Ltd. | Recombinant human cuticle growing liquid |
800. Zhengda Qingchunbao Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. | Capsule, Tablet |
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