The Chinese government announced Sunday the ceiling retail prices of 69 antibiotic products, which on average are 20 percent less than they were last year.
The announcement, effective as of May 20, means a yearly reduction of two billion yuan in patients' bills, according to the State Development Planning Commission (SDPC). The commission is in charge of supervision over price changes in major goods and services.
The ceiling prices of some 27 antibiotics may not be breached, while those of the other 42 may have a five-percent range of fluctuation pending the decisions made by provincial price supervision departments, the SDPC said in a press release.
All the 69 medicines are included in the state's basic medicare scheme.
(People's Daily 05/14/2001)
