China's medical system faces outcry over availability of quality drugs

As domestic generics push out big brands, doctors and patients report problems

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A children's hospital in Beijing. China's bulk drug procurement program has saved billions and offered more access to inexpensive medication, but concerns are mounting about the quality of generics pushed through the system. © Reuters

CISSY ZHOU

HONG KONG -- Public anger is growing in China over the availability of effective medication, with even prominent doctors in Beijing and Shanghai raising concerns.

The issue is the latest in a series of Chinese controversies over product quality, from a 2008 scandal over contaminated baby formula to one last year over tainted cooking oil. This time, the focus is on the effects of the country's so-called volume-based procurement (VBP) system for drugs.

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