China selects 440 products in latest medical procurement round to ease patient costs

The sixth round of China's centralized procurement program for high-value medical consumables, targeting 12 types of drug-coated balloons and urological interventional supplies, has selected 440 products from 202 companies, according to preliminary results released by the National Healthcare Security Administration on Wednesday.

Drug-coated balloons, used to treat abnormal narrowing of blood vessels, can be applied in coordination with previously procured cardiac stents and peripheral vascular stents. In the bidding process held this week in Tianjin, all 42 drug-coated balloon products from 32 manufacturers were successfully selected.

The administration said that the outcome will ease the financial burden on patients while maintaining strong alignment with clinical needs.

Urological interventional consumables, employed in stone retrieval procedures for patients with kidney or ureteral stones, have previously been a gap in centralized procurement due to their diversity and complexity. This category attracted bids for 454 products from 195 enterprises, with 398 products from 170 manufacturers ultimately selected.

The selected items also include specialized products such as scoring balloons and pressure-measuring urethral catheters, designed for specific clinical scenarios to ensure comprehensive coverage of medical needs.

The administration noted that this procurement round aims to secure products with high clinical acceptance and reliable supply capacity, while also accommodating specialized and innovative medical devices. Measures were implemented to prevent excessive competition and avoid unfairly low bids from driving down the overall price level within a product group.

Patients are expected to gain access to these products at more affordable prices starting around May 2026.

Since 2020, Chinese authorities have conducted six nationwide centralized procurement rounds for high-value medical consumables, securing 142 types of products across nine major categories, including cardiology, orthopedics, ophthalmology, vascular surgery, otolaryngology, and urology.