Dong Zhaohui, an official at the administration, said in an interview with China Central Television that it has adjusted tendering and supplying protocols to tailor them to the characteristics of biological drugs.

For instance, since it usually takes longer for firms making biological drugs to step up production capacity, selected drugmakers were asked to cap the total purchase volume in agreements at under 50 percent of their maximum production capacity.

To further ensure stable supply, medical institutions will be allowed to choose to purchase from multiple insulin manufacturers.

"We will also strengthen monitoring of preparedness at selected drug companies, as well as their response to hospitals' requests and delivery speed," he said.

"If they are found to be ill-equipped or fail to meet demands, we will activate procedures to replace them with alternative firms."

China's first five rounds of centralized procurement involved 218 types of medications.

According to a plan aimed at strengthening the medical safety net that was released by the State Council, China's Cabinet, in late September, the national bulk-buy program is expected to cover more than 500 types of drugs by 2025.