Heart Stents

From 2021 to 2023, more than 3.7 million heart disease patients in China received implants utilizing discounted stents purchased through the country’s bulk procurement program, according to the National Healthcare Security Administration (NHSA), Xinhua reported on March 12.

During the same period, the country saw an increase in the use of the stents enlisted in the program, which registered an annual average growth rate of 17 percent, the NHSA said.

China in November 2020 initiated the centralized procurement of high-value medical consumables, with the first order being heart stents, slashing the price of the selected products to around 700 yuan ($97.4) to 800 yuan ($111.3).

Prior to the program’s launch, the average price of heart stents was 13,000 yuan ($1,808.3), and the imported ones were even priced at nearly 20,000 yuan ($2,781.9).

According to the NHSA, over 95 percent of the patients receiving heart stent implants now opt for stents included in the program.

On the Move

Chinese primary and secondary schools have received a directive from the Ministry of Education regarding myopia prevention and control, Xinhua reported on March 12. The directive instructs schools to ensure that students engage in proper physical activities outside their classrooms between classes.

Schools are required to schedule a 30-minute recess for sports activities each day to help students alleviate visual fatigue. This initiative is part of a nationwide campaign for myopia prevention and control launched earlier in March, jointly announced by the ministry and three other departments.

Furthermore, the directive calls on market supervision departments throughout China to rigorously investigate and address any misleading marketing and publicity activities related to