China Conducts First Centralized Purchasing For Medical Consumables

China's Ministry of Health has successfully conducted the 2008 national centralized purchasing of high-value medical consumables, at an average 10 percent lower rate. The first such exercise to supply medical institutions nationwide, the products purchased are classified into four categories: cardiac pacemaker, electrophysiology, cardiac intervention and peripheral vascular intervention (neurological intervention). MOH will publicize candidates' product catalogs and pricing in the near future. Non-profit medical institutions across the country may purchase these items; in principle, they should not buy similar products outside the catalog. Experts point out that the centralized purchasing can unify pricing of different regions in China, paving the way toward formulating standardized charging for medical care services. (Click here for more - Chinese Language)