Multi-department linkage to form a tight "guarantee network" for shortage of drugs

China News Service, November 10. According to the website of the National Health Commission, in the recent stage, the member units of the national and provincial-level consultation linkage mechanism for supply guarantee of shortage drugs (hereinafter referred to as the linkage mechanism) have strengthened departmental coordination, strengthened information sharing, and effectively improved the ability to guarantee the supply of shortage drugs.

1. Effectively monitor and respond to shortages of drug information. The National Health Commission guides local governments to verify and respond to shortages of drug information, and regularly reports monitoring and response status to all units and localities in the national linkage mechanism. The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology continues to dynamically monitor and analyze the production and supply situation of clinically necessary and prone to shortage drugs. The National Medical Insurance Administration continues to monitor the prices and distribution of shortage drugs. The State Food and Drug Administration continues to carry out basic information marking and data updating of shortage drugs, and collects production and supply information and production suspension reports.

2. Multi-department coordination ensures the supply of key drugs. In response to the insufficient supply of cyclophosphamide for injection, the National Health Commission launched a national response and worked with multiple departments to study safeguard measures. The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has established a weekly scheduling mechanism to promote existing domestic cyclophosphamide production companies to increase production capacity in an orderly manner. The National Medical Insurance Administration guides local governments to complete the listing of cyclophosphamide for injection produced by relevant domestic enterprises.

3. Make every effort to ensure the people’s medication needs. The Ministry of Commerce guides key circulation enterprises to strengthen flood prevention and supply guarantees, and carry out inventory preparation and emergency drills for key drugs. Multi-department coordination organized the resumption of production of the anti-malarial drug primaquine phosphate tablets.