Zhao Chao, president of Buchang Pharma

The operating revenue of China's pharmaceutical industry reached 2.35 trillion yuan ($371.98 billion) in the first 10 months of 2021, up 22.8 percent year-on-year, and the total profit of the industry increased 76.7 percent on a yearly basis.

Zhao Chao, president of Buchang Pharma and an NPC deputy, proposed more preferential policies to boost new medicine R&D, clinical trials and market introductions, as well as stimulate drug innovation and increase the accessibility of innovative drugs.

As traditional Chinese medicine has been extensively used in the treatment of COVID-19, Zhao also proposed TCM to be included in the national infectious disease prevention and control system.