Analysis of why the country does not import Vigabatrin (Ocoda) and policy reasons

Vigabatrin has been officially launched in China and has been included in the medical insurance system. Patients can purchase it through regular hospital pharmacies. The common specifications are 500mg*30 bags, and the price is about more than 1,000 yuan. Since there is a stable supply of drugs in the country and the burden on patients is low after being covered by medical insurance, the domestic market is not very dependent on imported drugs.

The state implements a strict approval system for imported drugs, including drug registration, clinical data review and quality control. For drugs that are registered domestically and produced or supplied in sufficient quantities, importation is generally not a priority. This policy aims to ensure the quality and safety of domestic drugs while encouraging local pharmaceutical companies to produce generic drugs or original drugs to stabilize the drug supply chain and control costs.

Imported drugs are usually more expensive. If imported in large quantities, they will increase the financial burden on patients and may put pressure on the medical insurance payment system. Taking Vigabatrin as an example, the price of the original drug in Hong Kong, 500mg*100 bags, is more than a thousand yuan, while the Laos version of the generic drug only costs a few hundred yuan, and the ingredients are basically the same as the original drug. Domestic versions already have reasonable prices and are covered by medical insurance, so the policy does not encourage large-scale imports to avoid duplication of investment and waste of resources.

In the management of drug imports, the state pays more attention to drugs that are urgently needed for clinical use, drugs that are not yet on the market, or drugs that cannot be produced domestically. As a drug that is already on the market and in sufficient supply, Vigabatrin’s domestic production and medical insurance coverage ensure patient accessibility. The policy orientation emphasizes ensuring drug safety, reducing medical costs, and promoting the innovation of local pharmaceutical companies and the development of generic drugs. This is also an important reason why the import of Vigabatrin is not prioritized.

Reference link:https://www.drugs.com