In a significant move to alleviate financial pressures on patients, China has concluded its sixth nationwide centralized procurement initiative for high-value medical consumables. The National Healthcare Security Administration (NHSA) announced on Wednesday that 440 medical products from 202 manufacturers have been selected in this latest bidding round.
The procurement program specifically targeted two critical categories: drug-coated balloons for vascular treatments and urological interventional supplies. All 42 drug-coated balloon products from 32 manufacturers successfully entered the selection, complementing previously procured cardiac and peripheral vascular stents to create comprehensive treatment solutions.
Notably, this round addressed a previous gap in China’s centralized procurement system by including urological intervention devices used for kidney and ureteral stone procedures. Despite the complexity and diversity of these products, 398 items from 170 manufacturers were selected from 454 submitted bids.
The administration emphasized that the selection criteria prioritized clinical acceptance and reliable supply capabilities while simultaneously encouraging innovation in specialized medical devices. The process incorporated safeguards against excessive competition and unrealistically low bids that could compromise quality.
Patients are anticipated to benefit from substantially reduced prices starting May 2026, when the procurement agreements take effect. Since initiating the program in 2020, Chinese authorities have now secured 142 types of medical products across nine major categories including cardiology, orthopedics, ophthalmology, and otolaryngology, significantly expanding affordable access to essential medical treatments nationwide.