The National Medical Insurance Administration recently issued a notice requiring the improvement and expansion of centralized pharmaceutical procurement in 2024. The notice proposes to strengthen regional collaboration, enhance the scale and standardization of alliance procurement, clarify industry expectations, and continuously consolidate reform achievements. Notification requirements: Expand the scope of the alliance and form a national alliance for centralized procurement. On the basis of centralized procurement of drugs and high-value medical consumables organized by the state (hereinafter referred to as "national organized procurement"), we will strengthen regional collaboration and upgrade provincial-level alliance procurement that meets the conditions to national alliance procurement (hereinafter referred to as "national joint procurement"). National joint procurement should be carried out in a standardized and efficient manner, with good execution monitoring and enhanced effectiveness; Fair treatment of all types of business entities and strict prevention of "local protection". Strengthen overall planning and coordination, and reasonably determine procurement varieties. Strengthen overall coordination in the selection of centralized procurement varieties, and achieve mutual complementarity between the national and local governments. The national organization's centralized procurement focuses on drugs that have passed consistency evaluation, as well as high-value medical consumables with inflated prices and strong public feedback. The key focus of national joint procurement is to cover varieties other than those organized by the state, as well as "large varieties" with large procurement amounts and wide coverage, continuously expanding the coverage of centralized procurement. Focus on key areas and actively promote the expansion of centralized procurement in 2024. In terms of drugs, we will carry out new batches of national organized procurement, and ensure the continued procurement of insulin and previous batches of centralized procurement drugs after the expiration of the agreement; Focus on guiding Hubei to continue to take the lead in the centralized procurement of traditional Chinese patent medicines and simple preparations, Shandong to take the lead in the centralized procurement of Chinese herbal pieces, Henan to take the lead in organizing the centralized procurement of alternative drugs, and Sanming Alliance to carry out the national joint procurement of drugs such as the centralized procurement of drugs for tumors and respiratory diseases. In terms of consumables, the state organizes the centralized procurement of new batches of high-value medical consumables and the procurement of artificial joints; Key guidance will be given to seven provinces, including Anhui, Jiangxi, and Guangdong, to lead the nationwide procurement of medical consumables such as in vitro diagnostic reagents, ultrasound scalpels, ligation clips, coronary cutting balloons, and vascular interventions. (Lai Xin She)