The government will make efforts to reduce the cost of anti-cancer drugs, and ease the suffering of patients and their finance burdens, said Premier Li Keqiang on Oct 24.

He made the remarks during a report to a session of the 17th National Congress of the All-China Federation of Trade Unions, which kicked off on Oct 22.

He said China saw 3 million more new cancer patients every year, with many unable to afford the cancer drugs. This year, the government granted zero-tariff treatment to imported anti-cancer drugs, and included 17 more cancer drugs in its national basic medical insurance program through negotiations with pharmaceutical companies, added the Premier.

Compared to the average retail price, the prices of the 17 drugs fell by more than 50 percent on average, he said.