China plans to set up a state catalog for medicines in short supply to strengthen early warning on medicine shortage and ensure drug supply, according to a draft government regulation.

The draft regulation, issued by China's National Health Commission (NHC), was posted online to solicit public opinions on Jan 15.

According to the draft, China will establish a state catalog for medicines in short supply and a separate catalog for essential clinical medicines that are likely to be in short supply, as well as establish a dynamic adjustment mechanism.

The catalogs will focus on essential medicines and medicines for emergency rescue, major diseases, public health and special groups, which have few supply sources and face the risk of supply shortage, according to the NHC.

Medicines that are listed in at least three provincial-level catalogs for shortage and cannot be restocked for some time, will be included in the state catalog, according to the draft.

China will also strengthen monitoring and early warning of abnormal prices of the medicines that are in the two catalogs, step up law enforcement against the monopoly of bulk drugs and other illegal acts and deal with the problem of excessive rise in drug prices.