Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, August 22 (Reporter Peng Yunjia) The National Medical Insurance Bureau recently released a message that through negotiations on the admission of medical insurance catalog, a total of 26 rare disease drugs have been included in the medical insurance catalog, with an average price reduction of over 50%. By adding other drug access methods, more than 50 of the 75 rare disease drugs approved for listing in China have been included in the medical insurance drug catalog. In recent years, the National Medical Insurance Administration has optimized the admission procedures and promptly included rare disease drugs that meet the conditions in the medical insurance drug catalog. The 2023 National Medical Insurance Drug Catalog Adjustment Work Plan did not set a time limit for the application of rare disease drugs. Drugs included in the national encouraged generic drug catalog can apply for the current year's medical insurance catalog, further expanding the access scope of rare disease drugs. In terms of drug supply guarantee for rare diseases, the National Medical Insurance Administration, in collaboration with the National Health Commission, has issued relevant documents to meet the reasonable needs of negotiated drug supply guarantee and clinical adaptation through two channels: designated medical institutions and designated retail pharmacies. As of the end of June 2023, 229000 designated hospitals and pharmacies across the country have been equipped with catalog negotiation drugs, including rare disease drugs. It is understood that the National Medical Insurance Administration will continue to improve the negotiation system for medical insurance access, taking into account factors such as clinical needs and the affordability of medical insurance funds, and will include more eligible rare disease drugs in the medical insurance drug catalog according to procedures, further improving the level of rare disease drug protection.