All designated “dual-channel” healthcare institutions have completed incorporating 91 newly negotiated drugs into the medical insurance reimbursement systemof Yichang. This expansion increases the total number of drugs covered under the “dual-channel” mechanism to 427, with 23,155 patients having benefited to date, according to the YichangMunicipalMedical Insurance Bureauon May 25.

　　The newly added drugs include 26 oncology medications, 15 chronic disease treatments (e.g., diabetes therapies), 13 rare disease pharmaceuticals, 7 anti-infective agents, 11 traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs), 4 psychiatric drugs and 21 other therapeutic agents.

　　Dr. Guo Linchi, Director of Endocrinology at Renhe Hospital (affiliated with China Three Gorges University), pointed outthat the inclusion of these drugs in medical insurance coverage not only substantially reduces patients’ financial burdens but also enhances therapeutic options for clinicians.(Reporter/Cui Yanhua, Correspondents/Rao Yaqi and Rabigul)