• 2013/12/03
• China
• Policy & Regulations, NDRC, Sanofi

The National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) price department's deputy inspector Guo Jianying has been taken away by authorities for investigation, according to an exclusive report from Caijin.com.cn. Guo is a former subordinate of Cao Qingchang, the ex-NDRC Department of Price Director who was reported to be under investigation over corruption allegations in August this year. Guo worked as Pharmaceutical Price Office Chief from 2009 before becoming deputy inspector in 2013.

Well-placed sources indicated that Guo has been deeply involved in pharmaceutical price management for many years, and the investigation may put mean delays to this year's Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) price adjustment implementation. Guo has been a vocal driver of the NDRC's current reform efforts focused on the drug price formulation mechanism, which in recent months have seen the Commission successively free up pricing for low-priced drugs, medical service fees and OTC prices. The Department of Price's potential implication in corruption investigations and accompanying impact on human resources will mean that future drug reforms are likely to be affected.