Annex E
DRUG POLICY AND ADMINISTRATION
Pharmaceutical industry was virtually non-existent in old China, and institutions for
drug policy and administration and quality control were very weak, with only one national
institute for control of drugs. Shortly after the founding of new China, under the leadership
of the central government, the Ministry of Public Health eradicated the rampant opium
smoking left over from old China, thus laying a good foundation for the protection of
people's health. In the last 36 years since liberation, the establishments of drug policy and
administration and quality control have developed very rapidly. Sections for drug policy and administration have been set up in the Ministry of Public Health and in the Public Health Departments or Bureaus in all provinces, prefectures, municipalities and counties throughout the country. Drug control institutes have been established in all provinces, in
most of the prefectures and municipalities and in some counties. Up to now, there are over 1,500 personnel engaged in the work of drug policy and administration, 13,000 technicians in
1,100 institutes for drug control, out of which, 800 institutes are at the county level. A
network for drug control and supervision has been brought about in China thanks to the concerted efforts by the institutions for drug control and administration, thereby playing a positive role in ensuring safe and effective use of drugs and in enhancing the development of pharmaceutical industries.
"Drug Administration Act of the People's Republic of China" was promulgated in September, 1984 and entered into force on July 1, 1985. The promulgation and implemen- tation of the "Drug Administration Act” mark a new stage in the work of drug control and administration by means of legislation. According to stipulations under "Drug Admini- stration Act" the Bureau of Drug Policy and Administration of the Ministry of Public
Health and the agencies for drug control and administration at each province, prefecture,
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