Beijing, April 10 — In a significant move to modernize and fortify the management of pharmaceuticals within China’s military, President Xi Jinping , in his capacity as Chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC) , has signed an official order issuing revised guidelines for enforcing the drug administration law in the Chinese armed forces .
The updated regulations—jointly released by the State Council and the CMC —aim to bring greater rigor, efficiency, and transparency to the administration of military medicine. Premier Li Qiang also approved the measure through a corresponding State Council decree. The revised law is scheduled to take effect on June 1 .
This sweeping reform reflects China’s broader emphasis on enhancing the combat readiness , health security , and logistical resilience of its military through strategic pharmaceutical governance.
Under the new guidelines, key measures will focus on:
– Tightening control over military drug reserves to ensure strategic availability and reliability during both peace and combat operations.
– Ensuring a stable and sufficient supply of critical medications to armed forces across all regions.
– Promoting the rational use of drugs , aligning usage patterns with medical necessity and operational demands.
– Strengthening oversight of special-use military medications , which may include treatments for battlefield injuries, chemical exposure, or extreme environments.
The reform also emphasizes enhanced drug safety supervision . A more robust quality sampling and inspection system will be implemented to detect substandard or counterfeit medicines, while risk management protocols will be introduced to identify and mitigate safety threats early.
Additionally, the guidelines establish clearer mechanisms to prevent, monitor, and penalize illegal activities related to military pharmaceuticals, including unauthorized distribution, corruption in procurement, and mishandling of sensitive substances.
By reinforcing institutional control over pharmaceutical logistics, the regulation represents a critical step in ensuring health security for Chinese troops , aligning military healthcare standards with the country’s broader ambition for a modernized and capable fighting force .
