China Food and Drug Administration (CFDA) is finalising a policy which will allow online sales of prescription drugs as early as this month. The policy will open up a market to online pharmacy operators that’s worth over 1 trillion yuan or some 160 billion US dollars. Hospitals currently account for around 70 percent of drugs sold to consumers in China. Online pharmacies are restricted to selling over-the-counter medicines and health care products such as cough remedies and vitamin tablets. Analysts say that drugs sold online may be up to 10 percent cheaper than those sold through traditional channels.
Source: China Radio International
