State Councilor Wang Yong urged deepening reform in drug administration, improving the regulatory system and capacity and promoting innovative development of the pharmaceutical industry to protect the safety and health of the people.

He made the remarks while inspecting drug administration in Beijing on Jan 19.

“The national drug regulatory system has played an important role in the prevention and control of the COVID-19 epidemic. Further efforts should be made to improve the approval process and management services for urgently needed vaccines, drugs and medical devices. Quality and safety supervision for vaccines, drugs and medical devices that have already been put into market should be strengthened in order to provide stronger safeguards for epidemic prevention and control,” Wang said during the inspection.

He emphasized further reform of the drug approval system, building a scientific and efficient drug supervision system and boosting research and innovation to promote sustainable, healthy and high-quality development of the pharmaceutical industry and to meet people's increasing health needs.

Noting the balance between development and safety, Wang urged strengthening quality and safety supervision for high-risk products such as vaccines, punishing misbehavior in accordance with the law, and ensuring risk control over the whole life cycle of the drugs.

He also advised building a professional team of drug inspectors through multiple methods to provide strong support for drug administration and drug safety in order to build a modernized drug regulatory system.