The approval of new imported medicine will be sped up, the State Council's executive meeting chaired by Premier Li Keqiang decided on June 20.

While stressing measures to streamline steps before market entry of drugs for rare diseases and life-threatening illnesses, pre-market registration inspection will be replaced by sampling inspection after sales.

More steps will be taken to lower prices of cancer drugs and facilitate negotiations to cover more exclusive cancer drugs in medical insurance.

The meeting also called for strengthening monitoring and alert systems for medicines in short supply across the nation, and increasing reserves to ensure supply.

A draft regulation highlighting standards and procedures for preventing and dealing with medical disputes was approved at the meeting.