(Yicai) Jan. 20 -- The National Healthcare Security Administration and three other Chinese authorities will visit Shanghai tomorrow to collect data and statistics on the quality and efficacy of the centralized drug procurement program.

The four authorities will listen to the opinions and suggestions of experts and members of the Shanghai Municipal Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference and discuss with them effective ways to further ensure the quality and effectiveness of China’s drug bulk-buying program, the NHSA announced yesterday.

During the visit, the authorities will listen to clinical practitioners, giving full play to the professional role of doctors and obtaining first-hand direct evidence of the clinical use of drugs in the centralized procurement program, thus maintaining order and safeguarding the health rights and interests of the people, the NHSA noted.

Twenty-one members of the Shanghai CPPCC submitted a proposal during this year’s Two Sessions, raising concerns about possible problems with the centralized drug procurement scheme.

Zheng Minhua, director of the general surgery department of Shanghai Ruijin Hospital, said in the proposal that he was worried about several issues, including the efficacy of drugs after price cuts and the sustainable development of the industry.

Editor: Futura Costaglione