近日，天津市医药采购中心发布《关于开展药品价格风险治理工作的通知》，将104 个存在价格风险的 中成药品推至聚光灯下。 此次天津明确划定价格管控"红黄线"：药价高于同种药品最低价 3 倍但不足 5 倍的，实施黄标管理；5 倍至 10 倍的，实施红标管理；若不降价或降价后仍高于最低价 10 倍及以上，药品将直接暂停挂网。这 一刚性标准，让以往凭借品牌、工艺享受 "优质优价" 待遇的老字号药企，也切实感受到了降价压力。 临床常用药大活络丸成为此次治理的焦点，其3.5g 规格售价从每盒近200元的高价到40元左右的低价不 等。其中，同仁堂、达仁堂、雷允上三家老字号的 3.5g 规格大活络丸暂未列入天津此次治理清单，但 全国性治理态势已全面铺开 —— 今年下半年以来，广西、辽宁、黑龙江、内蒙古、陕西、宁夏等近 20 个省份已陆续加入价格治理行列。天津新政与全国 20 余省份形成政策协同，标志着中成药 "以价换量" 的行业洗牌全面加速。 售价悬殊的大活络丸遇"降价令" 本报（chinatimes.net.cn）记者于娜 北京报道 在中药领域，大活络丸是名副其实的"传统名方"，用于治疗中风引发的瘫痪、肌肉萎缩、关节麻痹， ...

Core Insights - The recent price governance actions on traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) have become less public, with many provinces opting for closed-door processes to handle pricing issues [1][2][9] - The high pricing of TCM has been a long-standing issue, with previous studies indicating that a significant number of TCM products are overpriced [4][5] - The ongoing price governance is expected to lead to a significant industry reshuffle, with many companies facing financial pressures due to continuous price cuts and declining market demand [10][11] Group 1: Price Governance Actions - Various provinces have initiated price governance for TCM, but details are often not disclosed publicly, requiring companies to log in to access specific information [1][2][9] - The price governance actions were prompted by public outcry over the high costs of TCM compared to Western medicine, revealing significant price discrepancies [2][4] Group 2: Industry Challenges - The TCM industry is experiencing financial difficulties, with a reported total revenue of 356.19 billion yuan for 75 listed TCM companies in 2024, a decrease of 4.6% year-on-year [10] - Major TCM companies, such as Pien Tze Huang and China Resources Sanjiu, have reported declines in revenue and net profit, indicating a challenging market environment [10][11] - The National Medical Insurance Administration plans to expand drug procurement alliances by 2025, which will further pressure TCM prices and potentially lead to the elimination of less competitive companies [12][13] Group 3: Future Outlook - The ongoing price governance and procurement reforms are expected to create downward pressure on TCM prices, leading to a necessary industry restructuring [13] - Despite the challenges, there remains potential for high-quality TCM companies to be revalued positively after the industry undergoes a transformation towards product-driven strategies [13]

Core Viewpoint - The acceleration of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) centralized procurement aims to address the long-standing issue of inflated prices in the TCM market, with significant price reductions observed in recent procurement rounds [1][6][9] Group 1: Price Reduction and Procurement Process - The average price reduction for selected TCM products in the third batch of centralized procurement reached 68%, with some products seeing reductions over 90% [1] - The first batch of TCM centralized procurement in 2021 resulted in an average price reduction of 42.27%, while the second batch in 2023 saw a reduction of 49.36% [3] - The third batch of procurement included 19 unique products, with an average price reduction of 47.38% [3] Group 2: Governance and Long-term Mechanisms - Experts suggest that a long-term mechanism for price governance should involve both centralized procurement and regular monitoring of listed prices to identify anomalies [1][2] - The establishment of a robust procurement credit system is essential to ensure that high-priced products are closely monitored for sales performance [2] Group 3: Challenges in the TCM Market - The high prices of TCM are attributed to various factors, including the impact of climate on raw material prices, insufficient market competition, and the complexity of pricing structures [6][7] - The presence of monopolistic practices in the TCM sector leads to concentrated pricing power, exacerbating the issue of inflated prices [7] Group 4: Regional Implementation and Impact - Various provinces, including Guangdong and Jiangsu, are actively implementing centralized procurement to ensure that selected products are available in hospitals and to manage prices effectively [4] - The expected annual savings for patients from the recent procurement efforts are estimated to exceed 31 million yuan [4] Group 5: Future Recommendations - Recommendations for future procurement processes include establishing a reasonable price increase mechanism during supply shortages and ensuring transparency in production costs [5] - A national collaborative governance framework is proposed to standardize pricing rules and monitor price fluctuations across provinces [9][10]

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the ongoing price governance of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) products across multiple provinces in China, highlighting the significant price discrepancies and the government's efforts to regulate these prices to alleviate the financial burden on patients and the healthcare system [2][3][5][21]. Group 1: Price Governance Initiatives - Multiple provinces, including Guangxi, Liaoning, Heilongjiang, and Tianjin, have announced price governance measures for TCM products, indicating a nationwide effort to address high prices [2][3]. - The National Healthcare Security Administration (NHSA) has issued a report identifying TCM products with prices significantly higher than the lowest available options, prompting provincial authorities to take action [15][16]. Group 2: Price Discrepancies - There are extreme price differences for the same TCM products across different regions, with some products priced over 100 times higher than the lowest price available [6][9][10][11][12]. - For example, in Ningxia, a single unit of An Gong Niu Huang Wan is priced at 998 yuan, which is 11 times the lowest daily treatment cost for the same product [8]. Group 3: Factors Contributing to Price Variability - Price differences can be attributed to variations in ingredients, dosage forms, quality standards, and insufficient market competition, leading to concentrated pricing power among certain manufacturers [13]. - The complexity of TCM formulations and the lack of standardized quality control further exacerbate pricing issues [24]. Group 4: Impact on Pharmaceutical Companies - The price governance measures affect various pharmaceutical companies, including both small enterprises and established publicly listed firms like Tai Chi Group and Huason Pharmaceutical [21]. - Companies are under pressure to adjust their pricing strategies in response to the new regulations, with some indicating that the impact on their operations will be minimal [22]. Group 5: Patient Benefits and Future Outlook - The governance is expected to reduce the financial burden on patients, particularly for commonly used medications for chronic diseases, promoting fairer pricing and rational drug use [23]. - Experts suggest that while price governance is a step forward, it may not fully resolve the issue of price discrepancies, and additional measures such as collective procurement and improved industry standards are necessary [24].

Core Viewpoint - A nationwide price governance action for traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is being implemented across multiple provinces in China, addressing the issue of inflated prices and the pressure it places on medical insurance funds [2][9]. Price Governance Action - Provinces such as Guangxi, Liaoning, Heilongjiang, and Tianjin have announced price governance measures for TCM, with additional provinces like Ningxia, Inner Mongolia, Shanxi, Henan, Hebei, and Jilin also participating [2]. - The governance is a response to the significant price discrepancies and the pressure on medical insurance funds caused by high TCM prices [2][11]. Price Discrepancies - Notable TCM products, including An Gong Niu Huang Wan and Ban Lan Gen Granules, have been identified with price differences exceeding 100 times between various manufacturers [3][4]. - A study indicated that out of 93 high-priced TCM products, only 6 had prices close to their theoretical retail prices, highlighting widespread price inflation [3]. Factors Contributing to Price Differences - Price variations are attributed to differences in ingredients, dosage forms, quality standards, and insufficient market competition, leading to concentrated pricing power among certain products [7][11]. - For instance, the daily treatment cost of An Gong Niu Huang Wan can reach 1,898 yuan in Inner Mongolia, significantly higher than the lowest price available [4]. Regulatory Measures - The National Medical Insurance Administration has initiated measures to regulate high-priced TCM products, requiring provinces to verify and adjust prices by July 31 [9][10]. - Provinces have been instructed to impose penalties on companies that fail to comply with price adjustments, including procurement risk identification and potential suspension of product listings [10]. Impact on Pharmaceutical Companies - The price governance affects various pharmaceutical companies, including well-known listed firms such as Taiji Group and Yabao Pharmaceutical, which are now under scrutiny for their pricing practices [12]. - Companies are expected to adapt to a new pricing model based on cost and efficacy, as reliance on high pricing and marketing strategies may no longer be sustainable [13]. Benefits for Patients - The price governance is anticipated to reduce the financial burden on patients, particularly for commonly used medications for chronic diseases, promoting fairer drug pricing and usage [13]. - Increased price transparency is expected to help regulate prescription practices and reduce the misuse of high-priced medications [13].

Core Viewpoint - The issue of excessively high prices for traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has not been resolved, as evidenced by recent government actions targeting price adjustments for numerous TCM products across various provinces [1][2][4]. Group 1: Price Governance Actions - The Guangxi Drug Procurement Service Platform announced a price adjustment for 169 high-priced TCMs, requiring companies to complete adjustments by July 30 [1]. - Multiple provinces, including Jilin, Henan, and Jiangsu, have initiated price governance for TCMs, with notable products like An Gong Niu Huang Wan and Ban Lan Gen Granules being included [2]. - Jilin Province identified 52 TCMs with significant price discrepancies, with price differences ranging from 10 to over 117 times the minimum daily cost [2][3]. Group 2: Price Discrepancies and Examples - The price of TCMs is significantly higher compared to chemical drugs, with some products showing price differences exceeding 100 times [2]. - For instance, the price of Yuan Hu Zhi Tong Pian from Chongqing Xieran Pharmaceutical Co. is 110 yuan, with a daily cost of 45.83 yuan, leading to a price difference of 117.51 times the minimum daily cost [2][3]. Group 3: Historical Context and Ongoing Issues - The problem of high TCM prices has been persistent, with a 2009 study indicating that out of 93 high-priced TCMs, only 6 had prices close to their theoretical retail prices [4]. - Factors contributing to high prices include an inadequate pricing mechanism, numerous distribution channels, and commercial bribery in the pharmaceutical sector [4]. Group 4: Regulatory Developments - The National Medical Insurance Administration has initiated ongoing price governance for TCMs, with 28 provinces improving their drug pricing rules [4][5]. - The governance focuses on "average daily treatment costs," with penalties for products exceeding set price thresholds [5]. Group 5: Market Adaptations and Future Strategies - TCM companies are adapting to regulatory changes by exploring new profit avenues outside traditional markets, such as health products and wellness items [8]. - Companies like Li Shizhen and Tong Ren Tang are launching health-oriented products, indicating a shift in focus towards future growth opportunities [8][9].