Beijing to add 17 cancer drugs to insurance

A pharmacist takes drugs at a hospital in Beijing. [Photo/VCG]

Starting from Nov 15, Beijing will list 17 new cancer drugs in its public medical insurance system, the Beijing Municipal Human Resources and Social Security Bureau announced on Oct 31.

By then, 35 cancer drugs in total will be included in the capital's medical insurance, further reducing the burden of residents' medicine costs when fighting against cancer.

The period of validity of insurance payment standards for those 17 cancer drugs is from the middle of next month to Nov 30, 2020. From then, the government will adjust payment standards accordingly.