Recently, a piece of news that "Shanghai hospitals have received notice that original - research drugs for hypertension can be prescribed" has been spreading online. However, some patients who went to the hospital said, "We still can't get imported drugs." What exactly is going on?

A reporter from Yicai Global interviewed many clinicians from top - tier hospitals and community hospitals in Shanghai. It was learned that there are more than a dozen imported original - research drugs for hypertension that can be prescribed in large hospitals. However, the mechanisms and curative effects of these drugs are not all the same. For some popular hypertension drugs, such as Pfizer's amlodipine besylate tablets, the original - research drug "Norvasc", there is indeed an imbalance between supply and demand. There may be a situation of "no drugs available" in general outpatient clinics.

On January 24th, the reporter from Yicai Global learned from many hospitals in Shanghai, including Ruijin Hospital, Zhongshan Hospital, and Renji Hospital, that imported drugs for hypertension have always been available, but the supply of specific varieties is not guaranteed. "For example, Norvasc is not available in our outpatient clinic today, while Diovan (valsartan capsules) is available, and there are some others." A person from one of the above - mentioned hospitals told the reporter from Yicai Global. Diovan is an original - research drug for hypertension from Novartis, used for the treatment of mild to moderate essential hypertension.

"It's not that original - research drugs for hypertension couldn't be prescribed at all in general outpatient clinics of hospitals before. We can prescribe about a dozen imported hypertension drugs. The main problem now is that we can't guarantee a stable supply. Sometimes there are only four or five kinds, and there may also be special cases where there are no imported drugs at all. The imported drugs come and go. Sometimes when we can't get them, we can only prescribe domestic drugs. This problem has persisted for a long time." Li Bing (a pseudonym), a cardiologist from a top - tier hospital, told the reporter from Yicai Global.

Li Bing said that some patients couldn't get the drug for a month, and when they came to ask again two months later, they still couldn't get it. Then they would think the drug "is no longer available". But it's not completely unavailable, because sometimes it can indeed be prescribed, it's just a matter of probability. He took the lipid - lowering drug Lipitor ("atorvastatin calcium tablets") as an example, saying that this drug has also been available at times and unavailable at other times recently.

He also revealed that some drugs that can't be prescribed in top - tier hospitals may be available in community hospitals. "For some patients who have been taking imported drugs for a long time, this may be a relatively rare option. They need to visit several hospitals to try their luck." Li Bing said.

The person in charge of a community hospital in Shanghai told the reporter from Yicai Global, "Although there is a certain proportion of the procurement of original - research drugs, we generally ensure the supply for contracted residents."

Another person from a large top - tier hospital in Shanghai told the reporter from Yicai Global, "We do have drugs like Norvasc here, but they are only occasionally available at the beginning of each month, and they will be quickly prescribed out once they are available. It's really 'head - scratching'."

Li Bing told the reporter from Yicai Global that the situation where imported drugs are "sold out in a flash" is also related to the mentality of the public. "Rarity makes things precious. The fewer imported drugs there are, the more patients want to get them." he said.

Many directors of top - tier hospitals told the reporter from Yicai Global that in recent years, patients have generally felt that there are fewer imported drugs in hospitals. This is mainly because hospitals have the target of fulfilling the supply task of domestic generic drugs. "If everyone prescribes imported drugs, the target of domestic drugs won't be achieved." A director of the cardiology department told the reporter from Yicai Global. "If fewer imported drugs are prescribed, the corresponding purchase quantity will also decrease. With less purchase, there will be a situation of frequent 'out - of - stock'."

Li Bing said, "The idea that domestic drugs are inferior to imported drugs is also a misconception. Because all drugs approved for marketing have been verified. In addition, some people think that patients with severe conditions should be given priority to use imported drugs. In fact, there is no such distinction. It depends on the specific situation."

Source: https://finance.eastmoney.com/a/202501243307929488.html