China Adds Semaglutide, Cancer Drugs to Essential Medicines List After Eight-Year Gap
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Released by the National Health Commission, the 2026 edition of the National Essential Medicines List adds 116 therapies, bringing the total catalog to 794. Photo: IC
China updated its National Essential Medicines List for the first time in eight years on Thursday, expanding the registry to mandate public hospital stocking of blockbuster innovative therapies like semaglutide.
Released by the National Health Commission, the 2026 edition adds 116 therapies, bringing the total catalog to 794. The long-awaited revision ends a protracted freeze on the state drug procurement framework.
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