Joint Procurement Office Opens Price Confirmation for Compound Amino Acid Injection Subtypes – “Deemed Selection” Route Added to China’s 12th National VBP Round

Procurement Milestone

Item	Detail
Issuing Body	National Joint Procurement Office (JPO)
Announcement Date	11 Sep 2026
Policy Type	Price confirmation for compound amino acid injection subtypes under the 12th national drug VBP
12th VBP Timeline	Proposed selection results 31 Jul 2026; official publication 6 Aug 2026; agreed‑volume allocation to medical institutions completed 7 Sep 2026
Price Benchmark	1.8× the highest selected price of the comparable specification of compound amino acid 18AA‑Ⅶ injection (incl. 18AA‑Ⅶ‑SF), adjusted for each subtype’s specification, usage volume and price‑comparison relationship
Registration Window	14 Sep 2026, 09:00 – 17 Sep 2026, 12:00 (material amendments until 17:00, 17 Sep)
Price Confirmation Window	21 Sep 2026, 09:00 – 23 Sep 2026, 12:00; submitted prices are final and irrevocable; non‑submission equals waiver
Platform	National Healthcare Security Service Platform (fuwu.nhsa.gov.cn), using 12th‑round VBP enterprise accounts

Price Confirmation Rules – “Deemed Selection” Conditions

A compound amino acid subtype is granted deemed selection (with no agreed procurement volume) only if all of the following are met simultaneously:

Benchmark Test: Accepted price does not exceed the applicable price‑comparison benchmark (anchored to 1.8× the highest selected price of 18AA‑Ⅶ).
Own‑Price Test: Accepted price does not exceed the manufacturer’s lowest national listed price for the same brand – excluding invalid listings such as “inactive zone” prices.
All‑Specifications Test: Where a manufacturer produces multiple specifications of the same subtype (differing in content, fill volume or packaging), every specification must participate and satisfy both tests above.
SF Equivalence: Specifications labeled “SF” and those without the SF designation are treated as the same subtype for price confirmation.
All‑or‑Nothing Discipline: If any single specification of a subtype fails the rules, or if a company selectively participates with only part of its specifications, the entire subtype is deemed waived.

Scope, Exclusions & Eligibility

Excluded Products: Compound amino acid 18AA‑Ⅶ injection itself (both selected and non‑selected in the 12th VBP); pediatric‑only subtypes (generic names marked “pediatric/children” or pediatric‑restricted labeling); products that are not reference‑listed preparations; and products that have not passed (or are not deemed to have passed) the generic quality and consistency evaluation (GQCE).
Eligibility: Enterprises must meet the declaration qualifications of the 12th VBP procurement document (GY‑YD2026‑1); products must hold a valid domestic registration approval obtained by 11 September 2026 (inclusive).
Submission Requirements: Registration materials (waived for subtypes already cleared in the 12th VBP registration phase), a price confirmation commitment letter, and each subtype/specification with its lowest national listed price backed by provincial platform screenshots. Where company‑submitted listing data conflicts with JPO verification, the JPO’s verified data prevails.

Compliance, Penalties & Market Consequences

Red/Yellow Label Relief: Products granted deemed selection are exempt from red/yellow price‑risk labeling; existing red or yellow marks will be revoked by provincial procurement platforms as listed prices are adjusted to the confirmed level.
Risk Labeling for the Rest: After price confirmation concludes, all non‑selected compound amino acid injection products – including 12th VBP non‑winners, non‑participants, and products ineligible for VBP or confirmation (GQCE‑excluded), but excluding pediatric subtypes – will be flagged red or yellow by JPO member units under listed‑price governance rules, warning hospitals of procurement risk.
Credit‑Based Revocation: Deemed selection is terminated if a company is rated “seriously dishonest” or “particularly seriously dishonest” under the drug price and procurement credit evaluation system for kickbacks, tax violations, monopoly distribution control or similar misconduct.
False‑Information Sanctions: Submitting falsified listing‑price information results in disqualification and potential placement on the “violation list.”
Supply Obligations: Deemed‑selected products must mirror selected‑drug requirements, including full traceability‑code upload, timely supply and guaranteed delivery.
No Late Additions: Subtypes that fail to obtain deemed selection receive no supplementation during the 12th VBP execution period; however, newly approved specifications accepting the rules may apply to the JPO for deemed‑selection status.

Market Impact & Outlook

Extended Price Discipline: The mechanism drags non‑selected compound amino acid subtypes toward the 1.8× benchmark, tightening the effective price ceiling across the entire amino acid injection category beyond the formally selected 18AA‑Ⅶ products.
Portfolio‑Level Bargaining: The all‑specifications, all‑or‑nothing rule forces manufacturers to align pricing across entire subtype portfolios, discouraging cherry‑picking and compressing arbitrage between specifications.
Label Arbitrage Ends: The red/yellow flagging of holdout products – combined with label removal for compliant ones – creates a direct commercial incentive for hospitals to avoid non‑confirmed products, effectively marginalizing price‑resistant brands.
Compressed Timeline: With registration closing 17 September and irreversible price submissions due 23 September, companies face a decision window of roughly two weeks to model pricing against both the benchmark and their own national lowest listed prices.
Awarded Prices: Subtype‑level benchmark values and the highest selected price of 18AA‑Ⅶ were not disclosed in the announcement.

Forward‑Looking Statements
This brief contains forward‑looking statements regarding the price confirmation process, deemed‑selection outcomes, red/yellow labeling enforcement and supply compliance for compound amino acid injection subtypes under China’s 12th national volume‑based procurement. Actual results may differ due to risks including enterprise pricing decisions, JPO verification outcomes, credit‑rating actions, and subsequent policy adjustments by the National Healthcare Security Administration.-China Health Reform Pulse

Policy Source: https://www.smpaa.cn/gjsdcg/2026/09/11/24423.shtml

Liu Jinfeng Co‑Chairs 10th China–ASEAN Health Ministers’ Meeting in Malaysia – Signs Bilateral Health MOU, Pledges Deeper Cooperation on Traditional Medicine, Infectious Disease Control and Healthy Aging

Diplomatic Milestone

Item	Detail
Delegation Head	Liu Jinfeng – Vice Minister, NHC; Director, NATCM
Meetings	10th China–ASEAN Health Ministers’ Meeting; 11th ASEAN+3 (China, Japan, Korea) Health Ministers’ Meeting – China served as co‑chair
Dates & Venue	9–12 Sep 2026, Malaysia
Participation	160+ representatives from ASEAN member states, China, Japan and Korea
Bilateral Outcome	Signing of the MOU on Health Cooperation between the Government of the People’s Republic of China and the Government of Malaysia with Malaysian Health Minister Zulkifli Ahmad
Delegation Composition	Officials from NHC departments of System Reform, Primary Healthcare and International Cooperation, NATCM, the National Disease Control and Prevention Administration, and the National Center for Women and Children’s Health

Cooperation Agenda & Policy Priorities

Policy Showcase: Liu presented China’s national health “15th Five‑Year” Plan (2026–2030) and highlighted the achievements of the Healthy China initiative to regional counterparts.
China–ASEAN Track: Commitment to deepen cooperation under the China–ASEAN health cooperation mechanism in health human resources, maternal and child health, and traditional medicine.
ASEAN+3 Track: Commitment to strengthen practical cooperation on infectious disease prevention and control, healthy aging, and universal health coverage (UHC).
Strategic Framing: Both agendas were positioned toward building a global community of health for all, extending China’s multilateral health diplomacy footprint across Southeast and Northeast Asia.

Bilateral Engagements & Field Visits

Malaysia: Meeting with Health Minister Zulkifli Ahmad, culminating in the signing of the China–Malaysia health cooperation MOU, which institutionalizes a bilateral framework for future joint programs.
Other Delegations: Exchanges with heads of delegation from the Republic of Korea, Cambodia and the ASEAN Secretariat.
Site Inspections: The delegation visited Cheras Rehabilitation Hospital, a primary healthcare clinic, and the China–Malaysia Zhongjing Traditional Chinese Medicine Center – a flagship platform for TCM cooperation between the two countries.

Regional Health Diplomacy Impact & Outlook

Institutional Deepening: The MOU with Malaysia converts ministerial dialogue into a standing bilateral cooperation framework, likely anchoring follow‑on projects in workforce training, primary care and traditional medicine.
TCM as a Soft‑Power Channel: The visit to the Zhongjing TCM Center – and the explicit inclusion of traditional medicine in the China–ASEAN cooperation agenda – signals Beijing’s continued push to internationalize TCM across Southeast Asia.
Aging & UHC Convergence: With ASEAN economies facing rapidly aging populations, prioritizing healthy aging and universal health coverage aligns China’s domestic policy export with the region’s most pressing structural health challenges.
Disease‑Control Alignment: The ASEAN+3 focus on infectious disease prevention and control reinforces post‑pandemic regional surveillance and response coordination among the three Northeast Asian partners and ASEAN.
Next Steps: Specific work programs, timelines and funding commitments under the MOU were not disclosed in the readout.

Forward‑Looking Statements
This brief contains forward‑looking statements regarding the implementation of the China–Malaysia health cooperation MOU and cooperation agendas under the China–ASEAN and ASEAN+3 health mechanisms. Actual outcomes may differ due to risks including policy prioritization, resource allocation, and evolving diplomatic and public health conditions. Implementation details were not disclosed in the official readout.-China Health Reform Pulse

Policy Source: https://www.nhc.gov.cn/gjhzs/c100032/202609/9bd3cf08c8bb42139a684feddbba9b2a.shtml

Hunan Implements National Coronary Stent VBP Second‑Round Continuation Results – Province‑Wide Execution From 1 October 2026 With Red/Yellow Price Guardrails

Regulatory Milestone

Item	Detail
Issuing Agency	Hunan Provincial Healthcare Security Administration
Document	Xiang Yi Bao Han [2026] No. 37 (issued 9 Sep 2026)
Policy Type	Provincial implementation of national VBP second‑round continuation selection results
Product Scope	Coronary stent consumables – selected products per the attached national list
Effective Date	1 October 2026 (province‑wide unified execution)
Procurement Cycle	Through 30 June 2029; first contract year covers 1 Oct 2026 – 31 Dec 2027; agreements signed annually
Key Deadlines	Supplier registration & distribution setup on the Hunan Medical Procurement Platform by 30 Sep 2026; tripartite purchase‑sale agreements signed by 1 Nov 2026

Procurement Mechanism & Compliance Requirements

Participating Institutions: All public medical institutions (including military facilities) and all institutions that reported volumes are required to purchase and use selected products; other medical‑insurance‑contracted institutions are encouraged to participate.
Agreed Volumes: Annual contracted volumes are the quantities confirmed by hospitals in the procurement system (communicated separately to hospitals and winning suppliers). The first‑year volume is scaled at 15/12 of the annual agreement (rounded), reflecting the 15‑month initial contract period; non‑integer results are rounded.
Beyond‑Agreement Supply: Purchases exceeding the agreed volume must still be supplied by winning companies at the selected price until the end of the procurement cycle.
Platform‑Only Trading: All transactions must run through the Hunan Medical Procurement Platform; offline procurement, secondary price negotiation and any form of discount are strictly prohibited.
Usage Floor: Selected products must account for no less than 80% of total same‑category procurement and usage volume during the agreement period; hospitals may buy other price‑appropriate products only after fulfilling contracted volumes.
No Hidden Fees: Hospitals (including third‑party service providers) may not charge any additional fees for market entry, inventory or clinical use of selected stents, and may not block access citing cost control, product‑count limits, unreported volumes, quality deposits or distributor account caps.
Supply Responsibility: Winning companies are the first‑line responsible party for quality and supply, and must maintain emergency stockpiles and report capacity shortfalls to the provincial bureau in advance; prior distribution relationships are automatically cleared upon implementation. Non‑compliance (supply failure, quality defects) will be escalated to the Joint Procurement Office, with penalties, disqualification and credit‑system consequences applied.

Price Guardrails – Red/Yellow Label Monitoring

Under the “price‑procurement linkage” mechanism, non‑selected coronary stents listed on the platform at elevated prices will carry warning labels benchmarked to the highest selected price, with procurement risk alerts issued to hospitals:

Product Category	Yellow Label Threshold (≥1.8× highest selected price)	Red Label Threshold (≥2.5× highest selected price)
Non‑selected coronary drug‑eluting alloy stents	¥1,708 / unit	¥2,372 / unit
Non‑selected coronary drug‑eluting stainless‑steel stents	¥1,526 / unit	¥2,120 / unit

Selected‑product awarded prices and company‑level results were not disclosed in the provincial notice (referenced to the national attachment list).

Market Impact & Outlook

Continuity Signal: The second‑round continuation locks the nationally pioneered coronary stent VBP framework in place through mid‑2029, extending price certainty for hospitals and winning manufacturers after the landmark first round that reset China’s stent market.
Pressure on Non‑Selected Products: The explicit red/yellow label price ceilings (1.8× / 2.5× the top awarded price) effectively cap how long premium‑priced non‑selected stents can compete in Hunan, pushing hospitals toward selected products and squeezing margin room for out‑of‑award brands.
Hospital Enforcement Teeth: Execution progress is subject to “monthly monitoring and annual evaluation,” and is written into medical‑insurance designated‑hospital agreement assessments; hospitals with serious lag, unfulfilled volumes or heavy use of high‑priced non‑selected products face contractual consequences.
Supplier Reset: Automatic clearing of prior distribution relationships forces winning companies to rebuild logistics coverage within weeks of the notice, while distributor performance (order response, delivery) becomes a compliance exposure for manufacturers.
National Alignment: The notice stipulates that any national policy adjustments during the cycle will be followed accordingly, keeping Hunan’s execution synchronized with the central healthcare security authority’s continuation‑procurement playbook.

Forward‑Looking Statements
This brief contains forward‑looking statements regarding procurement execution timelines, contract volumes, supply arrangements and price‑monitoring enforcement for the coronary stent VBP continuation in Hunan Province. Actual outcomes may differ due to risks including national policy adjustments, supplier capacity and distribution readiness, hospital compliance dynamics, and quality or supply disruptions. Company‑level awarded prices and volumes are not disclosed in the provincial notice.-China Health Reform Pulse

Policy Source: http://ybj.hunan.gov.cn/ybj/first113541/firstF/f3113607/202609/t20260910_34061201.html