China's Ministry of Health (MOH) on Sunday released an inclusive list of illustrations on medicine use as guidance for doctors in writing prescriptions. It is the first state-level list of its kind in the country.

The list illustrates what each kind of medicine should be used for, but it is not mandatory. Medicines on the list include all those on the National Basic Medicine Catalogue and the Catalogue of Drugs for Basic National Medical Insurance, and some other frequently used medicine, the ministry said.

Cao Guirong, president of the Chinese Hospital Association, said at the release ceremony that compilation of the list borrowed the experience of developed countries and the World Health Organization (WHO) while taking into account China's geographic features and clinical therapeutic habits.

It took two years for more than 100 domestic medical and pharmaceutical experts to complete the list, Cao said. It would be handed out to hospitals nationwide within the next few days in an effort to promote better medical service.

(Xinhua News Agency February 7, 2010)