Drug and treatment prices changed in seven public hospitals in Zhangjiagang of Jiangsu province on January 1, 2014. Drugs will be sold at the prices that the hospitals buy them at.

“Insulin costs more than 50 yuan ($8.26) now, around 10 yuan cheaper than before. It is great. I have to take insulin long term – 5-6 bottles every month, so I could save 60 yuan,” said a 64-year-old man surnamed Chen, who has suffered from diabetes for more than 10 years, at the First People’s Hospital.

The purchase price of drugs at public hospitals are set by tender from the Jiangsu Drug Procurement Center. Yan Jiadong, a staff member at the pharmacy department of the First People’s Hospital, said an anti-hypertension drug is 5.70 yuan cheaper, dropping from 43.70 yuan to 38 yuan, and insulin is 8.24 yuan cheaper from 63 yuan to 64.76 yuan. More than 1,400 kinds of drugs are cheaper than before.

The move is an important part in public hospital reform.

Treatment prices have changed, too.

Registration costs have been cancelled in the hospitals. Check-up costs will be charged according to doctors’ experiences.

“We will keep an eye on people’s demands and requirements, collect problems happening in the price change process and monitor patient flow in the hospitals. We aim to make the process of going to the hospital more convenient and cheaper,” said an official from the Zhangjiagang municipal health bureau.