BEIJING - China will release a list of generic drugs by the end of June this year to guide enterprises to develop, register and produce urgently needed generic drugs for clinical use, public health and safety, according to the National Health Commission.

Those on the list will be the first batch of generic drugs of which production will be encouraged, the Commission said, adding that a renewed list would be released by the end of each year starting from 2020.

With healthcare reform going deeper and a population increasingly ageing, China encourages both the creation of new drugs and the research and development of generic drugs, and strives to transform from a major drug making country to a country strong in medicine manufacturing.

Last year, a document issued by the General Office of the State Council ordered efforts to promote the research and development of generic drugs.

The list of generic drugs is among 15 regulations, of which the release by the end of this year has been listed as priorities in China's medical and healthcare system reform in 2019.