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C-List and the Commercial Catalog—Transforming Access for Innovative Medicines in China

An NRDL+ Masterclass Executive Series

Start Date: 5/2/25

The Chinese access environment for innovative medicines that do not qualify for reimbursement under the Basic Medical Insurance package is on the verge of radical change. Leading this transformation is the country’s first-ever national Category C Drug List, introduced by the National Healthcare Security Administration (NHSA) to reshape the multi-tier medical security system. At the same time, the Insurance Association of China (IAC) is spearheading the development of a sector-wide commercial insurance drug catalog—an initiative that’s gaining rapid traction.

These efforts signal a fundamental shift in healthcare financing, with commercial insurance poised to play a growing role in expanding access to high-value, innovative therapies. Together, they will redefine funding pathways, pricing strategies, and market access for innovative medicines in China. If you have a stake in the Chinese market, now is the time to understand these rapid shifts in the access landscape.

Join Our Exclusive NRDL+ Masterclass Series

NRDL+ is proud to offer a series of masterclasses focused on these critical developments shaping the world’s second-largest pharmaceutical market.

Through these sessions, participants will gain timely insights into the rollout of national-level commercial drug catalogs in China—along with practical guidance to help innovative drug makers optimize ROI through informed positioning, strategic pricing, and targeted policy engagement within a global context.

What You’ll Learn

✅ What Policy Shift Does the C-List Signal—And Why Will It Reshape Pricing for Innovative Medicines in China?

  • Understand the C-List’s role within China’s multi-tier medical security system and how it complements the National Reimbursement Drug List (NRDL).
  • Learn why the C-List signals a fundamental shift in reimbursement policy and mindset despite its expected limited scope at launch.
  • See how it may lay the groundwork for value-based pricing and innovative payment models.
  • Understand NHSA’s proposed policies to engage insurers, employers, and hospitals in driving financing and adoption of innovative therapies via the C-List.
  • Understand what the industry-led commercial drug catalog is and its relationship with the C-List.
  • Distinguish between the C-List and commercial catalog regarding governance structures, stakeholder priorities, and implementation risks.

✅ What Drives Drug Selection and Pricing Under the C-List and Commercial Catalog?

  • Understand the C-List selection criteria and how they relate to—but differ from—those used for the NRDL.
  • Gain insights into the C-List price negotiation process, including stakeholder roles, responsibilities, and key evidence requirements.
  • Learn the main factors likely to influence pricing decisions by commercial insurers.
  • Explore whether a national-level negotiation mechanism is expected for the proposed commercial A-List.

✅ How Will C-List and Commercial Catalog Integration Impact Huiminbao Specialty Drug Plans and Insurance Innovation?

  • Understand the regulatory requirements for integrating C-List drugs into commercial insurance—and how they affect product design and payment capacity.
  • Assess the appeal of NHSA’s proposed incentives to encourage insurer participation in the C-List pathway.
  • Examine how current Huiminbao specialty drug plans are formed — and how the C-List and A-List may enhance or disrupt these models.
  • Understand how integration with the C-List or A-List could shape future plan design and coverage under the Huiminbao supplementary insurance program.
  • Unpack why inclusion on the C-List or A-List may not guarantee consistent access across Huiminbao plans.
  • Explore whether standardized commercial drug catalogs could help expand coverage for pre-existing conditions—and what pathways may be most viable for China.

✅ What Influences Provider Uptake?

  • Gain insights into China’s unique drug distribution system.
  • Identify the key factors driving provider adoption of C-Listed and A-Listed drugs.
  • Examine the companion policy development and coordination required to support adoption across care delivery channels.

✅ How Can You Position Products Strategically Across Access Pathways?

  • Develop a holistic understanding of China’s end-to-end pricing and reimbursement journey for innovative medicines.
  • Gain insights into key factors shaping strategic product fit — including selection criteria, pricing levers, innovative contracting, and evidence planning.
  • Apply a practical decision framework to position products effectively across the NRDL, C-List, and commercial catalog.

Who’s Already Enrolled?

This masterclass series has already attracted registrations from senior executives in global pharma and consulting firms, including:

✅ VP Global Market Access
✅ Head of International Pricing and Market Access
✅ Global Head of Pricing Implementation
✅ Head of China Pipeline and Access Strategy
✅ Head of Innovative Contracting and New Access Channels
✅ Global Value & Access Lead
✅ Access Marketing and Strategy Lead
✅ Global Director, Access Strategy and Policy
✅ VP & Head, Life Sciences and Healthcare (Consulting)
✅ Business Development & Alliance Lead

Agenda and Schedule

The program is structured in two parts: self-study briefings and panel discussions with Q&A.

The self-study briefings build a strong foundation—not only on the C-List and commercial drug catalog, but also on the broader pricing, reimbursement, and access environment for innovative medicines in China. These insights will help you better interpret recent policy shifts and maximize the value of our expert panels.

Participants will also receive priority newsletter updates on key developments affecting the C-List and commercial catalog—keeping you current as the landscape evolves.

We plan to hold panel discussions after the NHSA releases its draft work plan for the C-List, creating space for deeper, more informed conversations. Our expert panelists will draw on real-world implementation experience and proprietary research to offer practical perspectives, answer your questions, and sharpen your pricing and market access strategies.

🔹Module One: NRDL+ Executive Debrief — The State of Access for Innovative Medicines in China (2024 Edition)

Format: Self-Study.

Schedule: Available starting May 2, 2025, and accessible throughout the event.

This newly updated annual executive briefing delivers a comprehensive and timely overview of China’s evolving access landscape for innovative medicines—highlighting recent policy and market developments across basic medical insurance, commercial health insurance, and the provider ecosystem.

This module lays the critical groundwork for understanding how the C-List and commercial drug catalog fit within China’s broader healthcare financing environment—and highlights the structural and policy factors that may shape their implementation success.

🔹Module Two: C-List and Commercial Drug Catalog

Format: Self-Study.

Schedule: Priority newsletter updates begin upon enrollment. Full briefings will be released starting May 9, 2025, and will remain accessible throughout the event.

This module offers a foundational yet in-depth look at the C-List and commercial drug catalog—covering their policy and institutional context, relationship with the NRDL, and current thinking on selection criteria, price negotiation mechanisms, and integration into insurance products. You’ll also explore key policy proposals aimed at gaining traction with insurers, hospitals, and other stakeholders.

The module concludes with a comparative view of the two emerging commercial pathways—highlighting differences in governance structures, stakeholder priorities, and implementation risks, as well as areas where their trajectories may converge over time.

This section ensures you stay current with C-List and commercial catalog developments and equips you to submit well-informed questions in advance—maximizing the value of the upcoming expert panels.

You’ll also receive priority newsletter updates on key milestones and policy shifts, helping you stay ahead in this fast-evolving landscape.

🔹Module Three: Health Policy and Financing Panel — Advancing Policy Strategies

Format: 1.5-hour Live Panel Discussion + Q&A.

Schedule: To be announced two weeks before the panel, timed for release following the NHSA’s draft C-list work plan.

This live panel will examine the C-List’s positioning within the broader insurance system and its relationship with the NRDL. Despite its expected limited initial scope, the C-List marks a breakthrough in how China’s reimbursement authority is beginning to approach pricing policy.

Panelists will compare the C-List with the industry-led commercial drug catalog, highlighting differences in governance structures, stakeholder incentives, and implementation risks. They’ll also draw from regional and global case studies to explore how financing and policy design may evolve to support successful rollout—offering strategic direction for those involved in health policy advocacy.

The session will conclude with a discussion of international innovative payment models, identifying realistic pathways for introducing risk-sharing arrangements in China through either the C-List or the commercial catalog.

We invite you to submit questions in advance to help shape the discussion and maximize the value of your participation.

🔹 Module Four: NRDL+ Executive Interview — Implications of C-List and Commercial Catalog Integration for Huiminbao Specialty Drug Plans

Format: Pre-Recorded Interview (Chinese with English Translation).

Schedule: To be announced two weeks before the panel, timed for release following the NHSA’s draft C-list work plan.

In this exclusive interview, NRDL+ speaks with Dr. Wanyan Ruiyun, a leading expert in insurance and social security policy and Deputy Director at Fudan University’s China Center for Insurance and Social Security Research.

Together, we’ll examine critical questions around Huiminbao—ranging from current specialty drug plan formation to how the C-List and commercial catalog may shape the future of Huiminbao drug coverage. Dr. Wanyan will also share perspectives on how C-List price negotiation mechanisms might develop and whether a national-level pricing process could emerge for the commercial catalog.

This interview is pre-recorded to ensure quality translation. We invite you to submit questions in advance to help shape the discussion and enhance the value of your participation.

🔹 Module Five: China PBM CEO Panel — Frontline Perspectives on C-List, Insurance Innovation, and Channel Integration

Format: Pre-Recorded Panel (Chinese with English Translation).

Schedule: To be announced two weeks before the panel, timed for release following the NHSA’s draft C-list work plan.

In this exclusive CEO panel, NRDL+ sits down with the heads of two pioneering pharmacy benefit management (PBM) firms in China to explore how the C-List and commercial drug catalog initiatives may reshape insurance innovation.

The discussion covers key policy dynamics behind the rollout of these pathways and their implications for benefit design, insurer participation, and product integration. Panelists also offer insights into the evolving role of PBMs in expanding coverage for pre-existing conditions, the viability of standardized commercial catalogs, and how integration with retail pharmacy channels may influence future access strategies.

This panel is pre-recorded to ensure quality translation. We invite you to submit questions in advance to help shape the discussion and enhance the value of your participation.

🔹 Module Six: Pharmaceutical Strategy Panel — Positioning for Success Across Emerging Access Pathways

Format: 1.5-hour Live Panel Discussion + Q&A.

Schedule: To be announced two weeks before the panel, timed for release following the NHSA’s draft C-list work plan.

How should pharmaceutical companies position their products across the NRDL, Category C Drug List, and the industry-led commercial insurance catalog? Building on insights from earlier modules, this panel will present a strategic framework to help manufacturers sharpen their market access strategies to best operate in China’s evolving reimbursement landscape within global business limitations.

Discussions will cover assessing product fit with NRDL, C-List, and commercial catalog selection criteria while considering NHSA’s proposed product life cycle pricing framework. Key topics will include price setting, innovative contracting, and evidence planning. Panelists will offer practical guidance on balancing near-term access objectives with long-term growth across multiple payer pathways.

We invite you to submit questions in advance to help shape the discussion and maximize the value of your participation.

Meet the Experts

📢 Health Policy and Financing Panel:

Neil Grubert spearheaded the development of Decision Resources Group’s international market access business, most recently as Vice President of Global Market Access Insights. Since October 2014, he has been working as an independent market access consultant, trainer, and writer. He has completed projects for 14 of the world’s top 20 pharmaceutical companies, smaller manufacturers, and industry associations. He is a leading voice on pharmaceutical pricing and market access, with nearly 25,000 followers of his daily posts on LinkedIn for insights into global trends and policy developments. He also founded the Future of Pharmaceutical Market Access group on the platform—now a key forum for the international market access community, with over 4,000 members.

Sejal Mistry is a Director at Crowell Global Advisors, where she advises public, private, and multilateral clients on universal health coverage, sustainable health financing, and service innovation in the Asia-Pacific region. In 2023, she worked directly with the Government of Indonesia to develop its first national plan for eliminating cervical cancer. She previously led ACCESS Health Southeast Asia, overseeing multi-country programs on digital health and insurance innovation, and has supported South Korea’s health payer agency HIRA on global strategy. Earlier, she advised U.S. government agencies on health policy under PEPFAR. Sejal is a frequent speaker on regional and global health policy platforms and holds Master’s degrees in International Health (JHSPH) and International Affairs from Johns Hopkins University (SAIS).

📢 Huiminbao Exclusive Interview:

Dr. Wanyan Ruiyun is Deputy Director and Research Fellow at the China Insurance and Social Security Research Center, part of the Development Research Institute at Fudan University. He holds a PhD in Economics from Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, was a visiting scholar at Washington State University, and completed his postdoctoral fellowship at Peking University under the prestigious Boya Program.

Dr. Wanyan brings a unique blend of academic insight and regulatory experience. He previously served in the Development and Reform Department of the former China Insurance Regulatory Commission (CIRC), and has held leadership roles in the insurance sector, including Deputy General Manager of the Actuarial Department at Chang’an Liability Insurance, Deputy Director of the Membership Department at the Insurance Society of China, and Deputy Head of the preparatory team for the Greater Bay Area Insurance Services Center at China Reform Holdings.

With a deep focus on finance and insurance, he has led over 10 research projects at the provincial level and above, as well as more than 20 commissioned studies. His research has been published in over 40 academic papers across top journals in China and internationally.

📢 China PBM CEO Panel:

Dr. Gonggang is Chairman of Huibao Fuda Health Technology, a Beijing-based digital health company specializing in medical benefit management for commercial insurers and the employer market. The company provides insurance claims systems, a PBM platform, and customized digital tools, with operations in over ten cities across China.

Dr. Gong brings over 20 years of experience in China’s insurance and health benefits sector, having served as Assistant General Manager of Group Insurance at Taikang Life and Director of the Pension Management Center at Taikang Pension, as well as holding senior roles at Sunshine Life and Bohai Life.

Dr. Gong previously contributed to national policy as a member of the China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission’s pension working group and was appointed by the Ministry of Labor and Social Security as one of five expert reviewers for enterprise annuity fund managers from the insurance sector. He is known for his insights on health insurance product innovation and closely follows the development of China’s Category C drug list.

Dr. Gong holds a Ph.D. in Economics from the Graduate School of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

Ma Jie is the founder and CEO of Oak Health, a pioneering Pharmacy Benefit Management (PBM) company in China. Under his leadership, Oak Health has established innovative payment partnerships with leading pharmaceutical companies such as Roche, Pfizer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Johnson & Johnson, Hansoh, MicroPort, and Fosun Kite—reducing treatment costs for tens of thousands of patients.

The company also works closely with major insurers, including PICC, ZhongAn, and China Life, to develop insurance solutions for individuals with pre-existing conditions. These collaborations have improved claims efficiency and helped insurers avoid nearly 100 million RMB in unnecessary payouts.

Oak Health has built China’s largest specialty pharmacy network, covering more than 82% of DTP pharmacies nationwide. For two consecutive years, the company has co-published a white paper on ALK-positive NSCLC patient outcomes with Roche, the China Society of Clinical Oncology (CSCO), and Dr. Zhou Caicun.

Ma Jie is dedicated to advancing patient-centered care by fostering collaboration among healthcare, pharmaceutical, and insurance sectors through close partnerships with industry leaders.

Before founding Oak Health, he served as Deputy General Manager at MediTrust. He holds degrees from Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics and the University of Nottingham.

📢 Pharmaceutical Strategy Panel:

Ed Schoonveld founded and led the Value & Access Practice at ZS Associates, growing it into a leading consultancy in pricing, access strategy, and health economics. He previously led practices at Cambridge Pharma/IMS and Analytica International and has advised most major pharmaceutical companies on global pricing and access. Earlier, Ed held senior roles at Wyeth, Eli Lilly, and Bristol-Myers Squibb, including leading global pricing and health economics teams. He is the author of The Price of Global Health, a highly regarded reference often described as the definitive book on global drug pricing and market access. Ed now advises biopharma executives and boards and is a frequent contributor to industry discussions. He holds degrees from Delft Technical University and UCLA Anderson School of Management.

Dr. Boxiong Tang has over 25 years of experience in medicine, public health, HEOR, and market access. He has led global HEOR and real-world evidence functions at major pharmaceutical and biotech companies, including GSK, JNJ, Pfizer, BeiGene, and Teva. His work has supported product development, global launches, and reimbursement across mature and emerging markets, with deep expertise in China’s evolving access landscape. He currently serves as President of TZ Health, advising clients on health economics and evidence strategies. Dr. Tang has held academic appointments at Fudan University and Zhejiang University and served as Chair of the HTA Industry Committee at ISPOR Asia Consortium. He holds an MD, an MPH, and a PhD and has authored over 40 peer-reviewed publications and more than 100 scientific presentations.

📢 Meet the Host:

Kelly Ke spent ten years as an award-winning senior advisor in Deloitte US’s life sciences practice before founding bizi, a firm dedicated to helping life sciences companies navigate pricing, reimbursement, and access challenges in the U.S. and globally for over a decade.

She is the author of the NRDL+ Executive Debrief, a widely followed newsletter that fills a critical gap in English-language insights on access to innovative medicines in China. In less than two years, the newsletter has attracted members from over two-thirds of the world’s top 30 pharmaceutical companies, along with leading biotech firms, insurers, reinsurers, hospital groups, asset managers, law firms, and academic institutions, including Harvard, Northwestern Kellogg, USC, and UCLA.

Originally from Beijing, Kelly holds master's degrees from the University of Southern California and the University of Utah, as well as a postgraduate certificate in international health technology assessment (HTA) and reimbursement from the University of Sheffield.

Enrollment

If your role touches on pricing, reimbursement, access policy, commercialization strategy, or business development for innovative therapies in China, we’d be glad to have you join us. To keep the discussions focused and ensure participants have space to engage meaningfully, we’ll be limiting enrollment.

Participation Fee

  • US$795 Early Access Rate – available through May 1, 2025
  • US$995 Standard Rate – starting May 2, 2025, when the self-paced briefings go live
  • US$1,195 Late Registration – applies after the NHSA releases its draft C-List workplan.

We’re offering the early access rate to thank early participants and help them prepare ahead of time. If you're interested in joining, we encourage you to submit your enrollment request early to secure a spot and lock in the best rate.