The National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) introduced price caps on more than 1,000 drugs yesterday, reducing prices by an average of 12%, the South China Morning Post reported. Prices were reduced on 1,057 brands of medicine, out of a total of 2,349. The prices of most other drugs were unchanged, although 6% considered to be in short supply had their prices raised to encourage production. The move to provide more affordable medicines is part of Beijing’s larger attempt at health care reform, expected to be introduced over three years, and under which Beijing hopes to provide insurance coverage for 90% of the population. However, analysts said the price cap would not benefit the general public, as many drugs are already sold at retail pharmacies for less than the government’s price ceiling.