Young cancer patients undergo infusions at Beijing Children's Hospital. The number of children with cancer in China had reached 220,000 by 2014. [Ren Fangyan/For China Daily] Imported drugs are no longer subject to tariffs and VAT has been slashed in efforts to make medication more affordable, as Wang Xiaodong reports. The cost of imported cancer drugs is expected to fall dramatically as a result of recent government measures, according to the National Health Commission. On May 1, import tariffs were lifted on 103 of the 138 antineoplastic drugs - which can prevent or slow the growth of tumors - available on the Chinese market, and the value added tax levied on them was also reduced significantly. Authorities will also adopt measures to lower costs, such as price negotiations with manufacturers, greater use of centralized government procurement and the inclusion of a wider range of antineoplastic drugs in the national healthcare insurance program, Zeng Yixin, vice-minister in charge of the commission, told a media briefing last month. The moves are aimed at reducing the heavy financial burden that inadequate medical insurance cover can impose on some cancer patients, especially as the disease is a major cause of poverty in rural areas, the commission said. A report published last month by the Cancer Hospital at the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences showed that more than 3.8 million new cases are reported in China every year. Cancer has become the leading threat to people's lives and health because of a number of causes - including the aging population, industrialization and unhealthy lifestyles - and the incidence of the disease is rising, Zeng said. Although new, effective antineoplastic drugs are available, some patented drugs are extremely expensive, and that places a heavy financial burden on patients. customise fidget spinnercheap wristbands ukrubber wristbands in bulkmotivational wristbands for athletesbatman wristband24hourwristbandsglow wristbandswristband keychainwide rubber bands
HONG KONG - Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) announced on Wednesday that the Second e-Sports & Music Festival Hong Kong would be staged next month, featuring three international e-sports tournaments and expected to attract more young visitors to Hong Kong.The festival, to be held from Aug 24 to 26, will be with a larger scale and richer content than last year, with over 110 players from all over the world competing in "Return of the Legends 2018" and another two top international e-sports tournaments, the HKTB said."The first e-Sports & Music Festival Hong Kong last year generated global publicity value of over HK$150 million (about $19 million) and the e-sports tournaments also attracted more than 7.4 million live online viewers, providing enormous international exposure for Hong Kong," HKTB Chairman Peter Lam said at a press conference on Wednesday."The HKTB will continue to organize the festival this year with a larger scale and richer content, aiming to entice more young visitors to come and experience the vibrant and dynamic atmosphere of Hong Kong," he added.The HKTB would promote the festival in short-haul markets, especially the Chinese Mainland, Japan, South Korea, and Southeast Asia, said Lam.In addition to e-sports tournaments, there would be an Experience Zone, showcasing the latest e-sports-related products, and featuring game displays, VR experience, mobile game trials and music performances for visitors.
