By Feng Wenmeng, Liu Shenglan, Ke Yanghua & Ge Yanfeng, Research Team on "Strategies for Advancing Health-Wellness-Based Old-age Care", Research Department of Social Development,DRC

Research Report, No.226, 2019 (Total 5726) 2019-12-16

Abstract: Medications for the elderly are essential for treating diseases and improving the health of the elderly. With the rapid development of China’s pharmaceutical industry, the continuous promotion of opening up and the improvement of the level of medical insurance in recent years, the accessibility of medications and treatment for the elderly has been significantly improved, but there are still deficiencies in the increasingly complex diseases of the elderly. The main problems affecting the supply of medications for the elderly are manifested in three aspects. For instance, the overall drug R&D and supply are inadequate, some treatments do not suit the elderly, and some medication services for the elderly are imperfect.In light of the changes in drug demand of the elderly and in order to realize the goal of offering available, reliable, affordable and reasonable drugs for the elderly, it is necessary to improve our work in five aspects. We need to strengthen R&D relating to new drugs and technological means in key areas; we need to accelerate the introduction of innovative drugs and new treatment methods; we need to improve the quality of generic drugs; we need to establish a reasonable drug pricing mechanism; and we need to promote rational use of drugs.

Key words: medications for the elderly, health insurance, industrial development