New version of the National Essential Medicines List released, benefiting more quality medicines available at the grassroots level.

In order to better meet the basic medication needs for disease prevention and treatment of the general public, the National Health Commission, the State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, and the National Health Commission today released the "National Essential Medicines List", which will officially be implemented from September 1st. The new version of the list includes a total of 794 drugs, including 476 chemical drugs and biological products, and 318 traditional Chinese medicine preparations. Preliminary estimates show that the drugs in the new list account for 71% of the total drugs used in public medical and health institutions nationwide, reflecting the important status and widespread use of essential medicines as critical clinical medications. The National Health Commission and other departments will further promote the priority deployment and use of essential medicines, enhance the standardized use of essential medicines, ensure that medical and health institutions at all levels can obtain and use essential medicines effectively, promote the connection between outpatient and inpatient care, and enable the general public to access the same drugs at grassroots medical institutions near their homes as in major hospitals.