Domestic Pricing Captures Hearts

"I have two pieces of good news to share with everyone."

Wei Kang said this and tried to explain as thoroughly as possible.

"The first piece of good news is that, following everyone's strong appeals, the Sanqing Anti-Cancer Drug has received expedited approval and will hit the market today."

"Cancer patients across the country can make appointments at nearby provincial or municipal Grade A Tertiary Hospitals. Once the drug arrives, they can formulate a treatment plan and begin taking it under a doctor's guidance."

"There has been considerable controversy online over the overseas price of the Sanqing Anti-Cancer Drug. Unfortunately, Sanqing has no say over the price of anti-cancer drugs in Eagle Country."

"I'm sure everyone knows that Sanqing has reached a licensing partnership with Pfizer Inc. The price of anti-cancer drugs in Eagle Country is indeed very high, but every country has its own national circumstances. Medical treatment in Eagle Country has always been expensive, and the pricing of the Sanqing Anti-Cancer Drug must also follow market principles. After all, Sanqing's early R&D investment was enormous, and we need to recoup our costs."

"Here, I would like to make a declaration: the domestic price of the anti-cancer drug will absolutely not be so expensive. Sanqing will do its utmost to ensure that everyone can afford medical treatment and medicine."

"This has been Sanqing's original aspiration since its founding, and we will uphold it to the end. Only by never forgetting our original purpose can we press forward through adversity."

"Furthermore, I have a second piece of good news to share. I have received notification from the National Healthcare Security Administration that the Sanqing Anti-Cancer Drug has entered the National Medical Insurance Centralized Procurement Catalog. Before long, the Administration will come to Sanqing for price negotiations, which will be livestreamed in their entirety. When that time comes, Sanqing will certainly give the people of the nation a satisfactory answer."

"Also, I have a suggestion for overseas Chinese patients: you can return home for treatment. Whether you have medical insurance or not, it will be much more affordable—though having insurance would naturally be even better."

"Please believe in me. Believe in Sanqing. From the day this anti-cancer drug enters the market onward, the history of Chinese people traveling abroad for medical treatment will surely become a thing of the past!"

The moment this announcement was released, it caused a powerful stir across the internet.

"Sanqing Pharmaceutical is a positive national enterprise brimming with positive energy. It keeps the lives and health of the people close to its heart and possesses great compassion. It is truly a model for high-tech enterprises, worthy of emulation by all pharmaceutical companies..."

News accounts and major influencers alike rushed to repost it, generously expressing their respect while offering all kinds of explanations and popular science.

"Salute to Sanqing. Did you know that, because imported anti-cancer drugs are currently too expensive, not a single one has been included in medical insurance? Sanqing may be the first broad-spectrum anti-cancer drug to declare its intention to join the program. Let us wait and see."

"At the same time, we hope it will not be the only one. But perhaps, when it comes to anti-cancer drugs, having Sanqing alone may be enough."

The netizens were all stunned, and a complicated yet intense emotion surged up from deep within them.

The high cost of medical treatment had become a widespread phenomenon in China. This was especially true for incurable diseases like cancer. Early-stage cases were still manageable, but late-stage patients often had to pay the devastating price of bankruptcy just to receive treatment—and even then, survival was not guaranteed.

It was not as though people had never wondered why pharmaceutical companies could not lower their prices so that everyone could afford them.

But the enormous costs of developing new drugs were also a real issue. In order to recoup those costs, drug prices remained high.

Many patients who could not afford medicine even secretly resorted to illegal generic drugs, hoping only to prolong their lives.

Their painful experiences had been made into the film Dying to Survive, which received an enormous response. This showed just how unbearable the burden of high drug prices truly was for patients.

Every patient trapped in illness longed for an effective drug they could afford, one that could save them from the depths of suffering, just as communism had saved New China.

China had already risen in manufacturing. Relying on its formidable production capacity and complete industrial chains, most domestic products had achieved both high quality and low prices, selling well overseas and making China the world's largest manufacturing base.

Even technologically advanced electronic products such as mobile phones, screens, drones, and more had successfully gone abroad, continuously capturing overseas markets.

So, in the life-or-death pharmaceutical industry, people also eagerly hoped that a domestic enterprise like Huawei, Rice, or Little Frontier—an industry giant with overwhelmingly strong products and attractive prices—would step forward and carry the banner of healing the sick and saving lives.

Now, at last, there was a pharmaceutical company called Sanqing that had not only developed a miraculous drug, but also promised to make it affordable and high-quality. It was practically a dream come true. How could everyone not be thrilled beyond measure?

Countless netizens flooded Wei Kang's homepage and frantically gave him likes.

"I have never seen such a badass person in my life."

"No need to say more. President Wei is my idol from now on."

"If he can really lower the price of anti-cancer drugs and get them covered by medical insurance, then I'll set up a longevity memorial tablet for President Wei and burn three sticks of incense for him every day. No question about it."

"Wuwuwu, my grandmother passed away from late-stage liver cancer. It would have been wonderful if she could have encountered this anti-cancer drug sooner."

"This is wonderful! My dad's cancer can be treated now, and he has medical insurance too. My family had already decided to sell our house to pay for his treatment. Now, we finally won't end up on the streets."

"Haha, I already took my mom to make an appointment at a nearby Grade A Tertiary Hospital. The doctor said it was true and told us that treatment could begin as soon as the drug arrived."

Amid all this praise, some haters also popped up to voice their doubts.

"Wake up. Don't you think this all sounds too good to be real?"

"Exactly. Sanqing is only making promises right now, and you're already worshipping them. Don't let yourselves get slapped in the face when the price barely drops."

"Exactly. I suspect this is just a marketing tactic by Sanqing to build hype for the anti-cancer drug's launch. Don't let a few words fool you."

There were also some sanctimonious people who shed tears for the empty wallets of overseas patients around the globe.

"Don't overseas patients have human rights? Don't they deserve low-cost anti-cancer drugs?"

"Why doesn't Sanqing negotiate with Pfizer to lower the price of anti-cancer drugs in Eagle Country, so that all overseas patients can use affordable anti-cancer drugs?"

"Pah! Aren't they just trying to make money overseas? And they dare call that a compassionate heart?"

"Exactly. Sanqing shouldn't be so selfish. Such a good drug should be sold globally at low prices. Only then can it benefit all humanity."

Looking at these bizarre remarks, the netizens were both shocked and speechless, keenly feeling the vast gulf in values between people.

They grabbed their keyboards and unleashed a barrage of comments, defending Sanqing's reputation.

"Have these sanctimonious idiots had their brains chewed up by zombies? If you want to do it, go do it yourselves. Don't pull that moral blackmail crap."

"I suggest all these saints sacrifice their families to save humanity and sacrifice their intelligence in exchange for overseas human rights."

"For fuck's sake, from now on, whenever I see one of these Sanqing haters, I'll tear them apart!"

"Fuck, Sanqing isn't a charity. Even if it were doing charity, it would do it at home. What the hell does that have to do with foreign countries?"

The keyboard warriors had never been so united. As fierce as gods descending to earth, they cursed the sanctimonious crowd and the haters into silence, sending them retreating again and again before they fled in disgrace.

Meanwhile, the other domestic pharmaceutical companies all looked at one another, speechless.

"Has Wei Kang gone crazy?"

That was the first thought that came to every pharmaceutical CEO's mind.

Lower the price? How was that possible? Were all those R&D investments supposed to go down the drain?

Why refuse money that could be made? They simply couldn't understand it! It was utterly absurd!

Looking at Sanqing's grand declaration, they all felt that the world had become downright surreal.

"Is the pharmaceutical industry about to change?"

Everyone in the industry asked themselves, "Sanqing, can you really pull this off?"

Soon after, a hint of admiration rose in their hearts as well. Whether Sanqing could achieve it or not, having the courage to say such things publicly was truly remarkable.

They were all prepared to see whether Sanqing could really cut its prices, and by how much, before taking corresponding action.

After all, many pharmaceutical companies had projects developing anti-cancer drugs, and some had purchased licenses for anti-cancer drug patents. If the Sanqing Anti-Cancer Drug truly proved both affordable and effective, then there would no longer be any room for them in the domestic anti-cancer drug market.

Adjusting their new drug R&D directions as early as possible was the proper business response.

After all, it was impossible for Sanqing to develop another kind of miracle drug so quickly, right?

Amid the eager anticipation of countless people, the Medical Insurance Centralized Procurement Negotiation Team finally arrived in Kun City.