Pharma firms bid for China's drug procurement program

A total of 859 pharmaceutical products from 495 drugmakers have been entered into the bidding process for the 12th round of China's centralized drug procurement program.

The bidding is being held in Shanghai on Friday, with preliminary results expected to be released later on Friday.

The National Healthcare Security Administration says it has organized the procurement program bidding rounds to expand access to quality and affordable medicines that are frequently used by the public.

Previous programs have selected a total of 490 drug varieties, involving more than 2,500 products from over 800 companies.