The General Office of the National Health Commission ("NHC") has recently issued the Circular on Strengthening the Control of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Drugs of Category I in Medical Institutions (the "Circular").
The Circular puts forward working requirements in seven aspects including improving the management system for narcotic drugs and psychotropic drugs in medical institutions, standardizing the prescription authority as well as use and operation management of narcotic drugs and psychotropic drugs, and strengthening supervision, guidance and accountability. Among others, the Circular clearly states that a medical institution is the primary responsible body for the administration of clinical application of narcotic drugs and psychotropic drugs, and its principal shall perform the duties of the first responsible person. Medical institutions shall strengthen the procurement, storage, dispensing, use and safety management of narcotic drugs and psychotropic drugs in all aspects. The Circular also requires that physicians and pharmacists of medical institutions may obtain the authority to prescribe and the qualification to dispense narcotic drugs and psychotropic drugs only if they have been trained and have passed the examination. Two-people operation in the whole course shall be promoted in key departments. The unused liquid medicine shall be subject to a continuous disposal under specified conditions. All medical institutions shall adopt various measures to strengthen their capacity in the daily management of narcotic drugs and psychotropic drugs, and those involved in violations of laws and regulations shall be held accountable seriously.