How China’s protectionist vaccine policy has backfired on Beijing
Strict screening process including Chinese clinical trials has left big foreign drug makers with a tiny share of the lucrative market
China’s latest public health scare has raised fresh questions over the government’s protectionist measures against foreign imports of vaccines.
Confidence in products made by Chinese pharmaceutical firms sank to a new low after a major producer was found selling large quantities of faulty vaccines that were supposed to protect infants against diphtheria, whooping cough and tetanus, and forging data for its rabies shots.
But Beijing’s strict vetting system means Chinese looking for alternatives will find it hard to track down vaccines on the mainland made by foreign companies, including products proven to be effective that are in wide use overseas. That policy has led to a growing number of mainland Chinese parents taking their children to Hong Kong and to other countries such as Japan for inoculations.
Economist Wang Fuzhong has called for the government to open the door wider to imported vaccines in the wake of the scandal, writing on his blog that this would activate market competition and eventually help to restore trust in domestic pharmaceuticals.
Wang said a competitive and efficient market would go a long way to improving safety in the industry, but a closed market had led to inefficiency, corruption and health risks.
China puts all imported vaccines through a strict screening process, something UBS Securities pharmaceuticals analyst Zhao Bing said was needed given the importance of immunisation for public health.
