The 2026 edition of China's National Essential Medicines List (NEML) has been officially released by the National Health Commission, the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, and the National Disease Control and Prevention Administration. This updated list, which will take effect on September 1st, aims to better fulfill the fundamental medication needs for disease prevention and treatment among the population. It includes a total of 794 drugs, representing an addition of 109 new items compared to the 2018 edition. The selection criteria for this revision prioritized drugs with high clinical value, wide patient applicability, and suitability for use across all levels of healthcare institutions. A key focus was on increasing the inclusion of critical emergency medicines, particularly those with high clinical demand, broad impact, and significant supply risk.

A significant addition to the list is EVEREST MED (HK1952)'s Stilamin® (Somatostatin for Injection), a core drug for severe gastrointestinal emergencies. Its inclusion is expected to enhance the treatment system for critical digestive tract conditions and address a gap in standardized medication for acute massive gastrointestinal bleeding at the primary care level. Furthermore, two other established drugs from Everest Med have retained their places in the 2026 NEML: the classic third-generation cephalosporin antibiotic Rocephin® (Ceftriaxone Sodium for Injection) for anti-infective therapy, and the hypertension emergency treatment drug Ebrantil® (Urapidil Hydrochloride Injection). The presence of all three drugs is set to comprehensively strengthen the medication security system for managing critical illnesses across medical institutions of all tiers.

First-time Inclusion of Stilamin® Addresses Critical Bleeding Treatment Gap

Currently, a standardized gap exists in primary care for effective hemostatic drugs in severe emergency situations. Stilamin® stands out as a major new addition in the field of critical gastrointestinal care within this list revision. As a first-line emergency treatment for acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding, it is used for conditions like esophageal and gastric variceal bleeding and acute peptic ulcer bleeding, facilitating rapid hemostasis and stabilization of vital signs. It is a preferred choice in emergency and gastroenterology departments for rescuing patients with critical upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage. Additionally, the product holds irreplaceable clinical value in preventing and treating postoperative pancreatic complications, aiding in the management of pancreatic, biliary, and enteric fistulas, covering severe postoperative complications in hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgery. It is a preferred original research product for digestive tract fistulas, which carry a mortality rate as high as 5%-20%.

As the world's first original somatostatin for injection, Stilamin® entered the Chinese market in 1993 and has accumulated thirty-three years of clinical experience. Backed by extensive clinical practice and use across tertiary and county-level hospitals, it has received authoritative recommendations from dozens of domestic and international guidelines, consensuses, and clinical pathways. With its inclusion in the NEML, primary healthcare institutions such as county and district hospitals, township health centers, and community hospitals will be able to perform emergency management of critical gastrointestinal conditions locally, thereby reducing the risks associated with patient transfer and mortality.

Sustained Inclusion of Rocephin® and Ebrantil® Enhances Synergistic Benefits for Healthcare and Patients

In the current context of antibiotic overuse, increasing clinical drug-resistant infections, and the national implementation of antibiotic classification management, Rocephin® stands out as the only non-restricted antibiotic among third-generation cephalosporins due to its high susceptibility and low resistance rates. It is a first-line choice for treating moderate-to-severe infections and infections in immunocompromised populations. After over three decades of large-scale clinical application, its efficacy and safety have gained unanimous recognition from clinicians nationwide. Having been listed in the National Essential Medicines List as early as 2015, Rocephin® has successfully maintained its status as a national essential medicine. This broad-spectrum, potent antibiotic covers multi-system infections and remains an irreplaceable core drug for infection diagnosis and treatment in hospitals across all levels in China.

Rocephin® is indicated for infections caused by susceptible pathogens in various body sites, exhibiting strong antibacterial activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. It also possesses excellent tissue penetration, making it a preferred choice for common pathogenic infections across multiple departments, including sepsis, pneumonia, intra-abdominal infections, urinary tract infections, skin and soft tissue infections, preoperative infection prophylaxis, and meningitis. Furthermore, Rocephin® offers advantages in safety, convenience, and irreplaceability for special patient populations. It can be used in special groups including newborns, pregnant women, and elderly patients. Its once-daily dosing and multiple administration routes (intramuscular, intravenous injection, or infusion) offer significant clinical convenience.

Another Everest Med product, Ebrantil®, has also successfully retained its national essential medicine status. Ebrantil® is a selective α1 receptor blocker with dual central and peripheral antihypertensive mechanisms. As a preferred drug for hypertensive crises, severe/extreme hypertension, and refractory hypertension, it offers rapid, stable, and controllable blood pressure reduction with a good safety profile, featuring a low incidence of hypotension, no increase in intracranial pressure, and no effect on heart rate. It is also an essential medication for controlled hypotension during and after surgical procedures, covering blood pressure management throughout the entire surgical cycle. Its indications cover critical emergency scenarios such as aortic dissection, cerebral hemorrhage, and ischemic stroke. Ebrantil® was included in the National Emergency (Rescue) Drug List in 2015 and entered the National Essential Medicines List in 2018, enabling standardized management of hypertensive emergencies and significantly improving the success rate of rescues for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular emergencies.

The inclusion of all three drugs in the new NEML is poised to address medication and equipment shortcomings in county and community-level diagnostics, unify core emergency drugs between higher and lower-tier hospitals, promote the implementation of tiered diagnosis and treatment, standardize clinical practices, and build a complete closed-loop system for in-hospital emergency medication, thereby standardizing treatment pathways. For patients, essential medicine status brings tangible benefits: inclusion often leads to higher medical insurance reimbursement rates, significantly reducing out-of-pocket costs for severe hospitalization. Community hospitals and township health centers will be equipped with essential emergency specialty drugs, eliminating the need for patients to travel long distances to tertiary hospitals during sudden emergencies. This facilitates the下沉 (downward distribution) of classic emergency drugs that have undergone rigorous national evaluation, truly benefiting patients at the grassroots level.

The 2026 National Essential Medicines List focuses on addressing clinical pain points in critical and emergency care. The three core drugs—Rocephin®, Ebrantil®, and Stilamin®—simultaneously cover three major areas: infection, cardiovascular emergencies, and critical gastrointestinal conditions. Following the full implementation of the new list on September 1st, the capacity for critical care and anti-infective treatment in hospitals across China, especially at the primary care level, is expected to undergo a comprehensive upgrade. High-quality, essential emergency medications will become directly accessible at the grassroots level, truly realizing the goals of "having drugs for emergencies, treatable nearby, and reduced financial burden," thereby safeguarding public health through national drug policies in an all-encompassing manner.