China updated its national medical insurance and commercial insurance drug lists on Nov. 15, 2026, incorporating 107 new drugs into the basic medical insurance catalog and adding 12 treatments to the commercial insurance scheme, according to spanish.peopledaily.com.cn.
National Medical Insurance Catalog Expands to Include 3,331 Drugs
- The updated national medical insurance catalog now includes 3,331 drugs in total, following nine adjustments made by the National Healthcare Security Administration since 2018.
- The newly expanded lists will formally take effect on January 1, 2027.
- Additions target urgent clinical needs across oncology, rare diseases, chronic conditions, and mental health.
National Medical Insurance Expansion Adds 107 Drugs
The National Healthcare Security Administration presented updated versions of both its national medical insurance catalog and its commercial insurance list on Saturday, spanish.peopledaily.com.cn reported. A total of 107 fármacos joined the national list, setting a new record by including 51 Class 1 innovative drugs that have not yet been marketed inside or outside China.
These newly added treatments address urgent clinical requirements in fields such as cancer, rare diseases, chronic conditions, and mental health disorders. Following this latest update, the national insurance catalog contains 3,331 medications, encompassing both Western medicine and traditional Chinese medicine.
Commercial Insurance List Adds 12 Novel Treatments
The separate list of innovative drugs covered by commercial insurance, first introduced in December 2025, gained 12 new fármacos to reach a total of 28 covered products. The administration highlighted that these additions include the world’s first CAR-T therapy for solid tumors and China’s first gene therapy for hemophilia.
Both the revised national medical insurance catalog and the updated commercial insurance list are scheduled to enter into force on January 1, 2027. Since its creation in 2018, the administration has executed nine distinct adjustments to the medical insurance drug catalog.
| Insurance Category | New Additions | Total Coverage / Portfolio | Effective Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| National Medical Insurance Catalog | 107 drugs (incl. 51 Class 1 innovative drugs) | 3,331 drugs (Western & traditional Chinese medicine) | January 1, 2027 |
| Commercial Innovative Drug List | 12 drugs | 28 drugs total | January 1, 2027 |
Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice.
