Listing of generic drugs designed to encourage research and production

A list of generic drugs will be announced before the end of June as part of efforts to encourage pharmaceutical companies to step up production and research, according to a work plan jointly issued on Wednesday by 12 government departments, including the National Health Commission.

The list will be updated at the end of every year, starting from 2020.

Key generic technologies of major chemical and biological medicines on the list will be incorporated into national plans for research and development.

The plan also promised to prioritize the approval of generic drugs on the list and ensure they have the same quality and effectiveness as their branded counterparts.