title: Exploration of approaches to adjusting brand-name drug prices in Mainland of China: based on comparison and analysis of some brand-name drug prices of Mainland and Taiwan, China.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Under the circumstance of the New Medical Reform in Mainland of China, lowering drug prices has become an approach to relieving increase of medical expenses, and lowering brand-name medication price is a key strategy. This study, by comparing and analyzing brand-name medication prices between Mainland of China and Taiwan, explores how to adjust brand-name medication prices in Mainland of China in the consideration of the drug administrative strategies in Taiwan.
  
  
  METHODS
  By selecting brand-name drug with generic name and dose types matched in Mainland and Taiwan, calculate the average unit price and standard deviation and test it with the paired t-test. In the mean time, drug administrative strategies between Mainland and Taiwan are also compared systematically.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among the 70 brand-name medications with generic names and matched dose types, 54 are at higher prices in Mainland of China than Taiwan, which is statistically significant in t-test. Also, among the 47 medications with all of matched generic names, dose types, and manufacturing enterprises, 38 are at higher prices in Mainland than Taiwan, and the gap is also statistically significant in t-test. In Mainland of China, brand-name medication took cost-plus pricing and price-based price adjustment, while in Taiwan, brand-name medication took internal and external reference pricing and market-based price adjustment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Brand-name drug prices were higher in Mainland of China than in Taiwan. The adjustment strategies of drug prices are scientific in Taiwan and are worth reference by Mainland of China.
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmaceutical Science, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China.
authors.forename: Geng
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Weng
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China; International Research Center of Medical Administration, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China.
authors.forename: Sheng
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: China National Center for Biotechnology Development (CNCBD), Beijing 100039, China.
authors.forename: Run
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pu
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pharmacology, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan 00222, China.
authors.forename: Wynn H T
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmaceutical Science, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China; International Research Center of Medical Administration, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China. Email: Shilu@bjmu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Luwen
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Shi
mesh_terms: D002681:China; D006801:Humans; D004366:Nonprescription Drugs / Q000191:economics; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations / Q000191:economics*; D013624:Taiwan
chemical_list: D004366:Nonprescription Drugs; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations