Proposed Health Care Reforms Would Ban Hospital Markups of Prescribed Drugs

(Beijing) — Chinese authorities have issued a set of recommendations for proposed health care reforms on Tuesday that will ban public hospitals from marking up prices of drugs they prescribe — a controversial practice aimed at making up funding shortages.

Regulators will ease price controls on services such as consultations and in-patient care by allowing the public facilities to charge more for premium services they supply, according to a document released Tuesday by the State Council, China's cabinet.