Exploration of the Limitations of Regulation of Medicine Price Difference in China:With Nifedipine as an Example

OBJECTIVE:To explore the limitations of Regulation of Drug Price Difference(called Regulation for short) in China.METHODS:Taking nifedipine as an example,the cost of Nifedipine controlled release tablet was calculated roughly by comparing therapeutic efficacy,ADR,DDC and preparation technology between Nifedipine tablet and Nifedipine controlled-release tablets.The reasons that Nifedipine controlled-release tablets had not been included in National Essential Medicine List(2012 edition) were analyzed,and the limitation of regulation were also analyzed.RESULTS CONCLUSIONS:The change of dosage form improve therapeutic efficacy to some extent,reduce adverse reactions and drugs are more convenient to patient;but the cost accounting is not in place and medicine difference is too high,which lead to false high prices of part of dosage form,inhibit and weaken the active effect of regulation.The dosage form and specification without price difference coefficient should be supplemented and improved regularly as soon as possible,especially controlled release preparation and targeting preparation.