The Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress has adopted the Medical Security Law of the People’s Republic of China, establishing a comprehensive statutory framework for China’s medical security system. The Law was adopted on 28 August 2026 and will enter into force on 1 January 2027.

The Law establishes a multi-level medical security system centred on basic medical insurance and introduces comprehensive provisions covering financing, benefits, medical security funds, healthcare services, supervision and legal liability. It further reinforces coordination between healthcare, medical insurance and pharmaceutical governance, while promoting greater fairness, sustainability and regulatory oversight.

As one of the most significant developments in China’s healthcare regulatory framework, the new Law provides a unified legislative foundation for the operation and supervision of the medical security system, with important implications for healthcare institutions, pharmaceutical companies and other stakeholders operating in the Chinese market.