Buying Medicine in China: Prescription and OTC Pharmacy Rules

Summary: China classifies medicines as prescription drugs and non-prescription (OTC) drugs. A prescription drug may only be dispensed, purchased, and used against a prescription from a licensed physician or assistant physician. OTC drugs may be chosen and used by the consumer, and are split into Class A and Class B. This article explains the categories, the purchase rules, and the counter process only.

For an international visitor, the first question at a Chinese pharmacy is usually whether a medicine can be bought directly or needs a hospital prescription first. The answer depends on the drug's classification, not on package size or price. Understanding the categories avoids repeated explanations at the counter and, more importantly, avoids obtaining prescription drugs through irregular channels.

What is the difference between prescription and OTC drugs?

A prescription drug may only be dispensed, purchased, and used against a prescription from a licensed physician or assistant physician. An OTC drug needs no such prescription and may be chosen and used by the consumer.

Article 2 of the Interim Measures for the Classified Administration of Prescription and Non-prescription Drugs sets out this distinction, and Article 54 of the Drug Administration Law confirms that China applies a classification system for prescription and OTC drugs. For a visitor, the most direct way to identify a category is to read the OTC logo and the package insert, rather than relying on how the same medicine is sold at home.

What is the difference between Class A and Class B OTC drugs?

OTC drugs are divided by safety into Class A and Class B. Class A OTC drugs are sold only in retail pharmacies holding a Drug Business Licence. Class B OTC drugs may also be sold by approved general commercial businesses.

The difference is mainly the sales channel, not the strength of the medicine:

• Class A OTC: the package carries the Class A OTC logo, and sale is limited to retail pharmacies holding a Drug Business Licence.
• Class B OTC: the package carries the Class B OTC logo, and sale is allowed both in retail pharmacies and in other commercial businesses approved by the provincial drug regulator or its authorised body.
• A commercial business selling Class B OTC drugs must have a dedicated staff member who has completed training and passed the required assessment.

Whichever channel is used, the label and package insert govern use. The insert describes general use; whether it applies to a particular person, and whether anything should be adjusted, is a question for a licensed physician or pharmacist.

What are the steps to buy a prescription drug?

First see a physician at a medical institution in China and obtain a prescription, then take it to a pharmacy whose business scope covers prescription drugs.

The usual sequence is:

1. Attend a medical institution and obtain a prescription from a licensed physician or assistant physician;
2. Take the prescription to a retail pharmacy holding a Drug Business Licence with prescription drugs in its business scope;
3. The pharmacy checks the prescription when dispensing, and may not change or substitute the drugs listed;
4. If the prescription contains an incompatibility or an excessive quantity, the pharmacy must refuse to dispense; a physician may correct or re-sign it if necessary;
5. After collection, use the medicine according to the physician's instructions or the package insert. Questions about use should go to a licensed physician or pharmacist.

A prescription drug in China must be bought against a prescription issued by a licensed physician or assistant physician practising in China. A prescription from another country does not replace this step: the visitor should see a physician in China, who decides whether the medicine is needed and issues the prescription. A pharmacy should not be asked to sell against a foreign prescription.

Can OTC drugs be bought without a prescription?

Yes. Consumers may choose OTC drugs themselves, but must use them according to the label and package insert.

OTC labels and inserts must be approved by the national drug regulator and written in language that is scientific, clear, and easy for consumers to understand. Packaging must carry the designated OTC logo, and every sales unit must include a label and package insert.

Buying without a prescription is not the same as deciding a treatment plan alone. If symptoms persist or worsen, or if other medicines are being used, the visitor should see a physician or consult a pharmacist rather than adding medicines independently.

How can a visitor check that a pharmacy and a medicine are legitimate?

Check that the pharmacy displays a Drug Business Licence with its business scope, and that the medicine has an approval number, a label, and a complete package insert.

Public information a visitor can check includes:

• whether the pharmacy holds a valid Drug Business Licence and whether its business scope covers the category needed;
• whether the package shows a drug approval number;
• whether the label or insert states the generic name, ingredients, specification, marketing authorisation holder and address, manufacturer and address, approval number, batch number, production date, expiry date, indications or functions, contraindications, adverse reactions, and precautions;
• whether the packaging is intact and includes the package insert.

By law, prescription drugs may be advertised only in professional medical publications, while OTC drugs may be advertised in mass media after approval. An advertisement is therefore not a basis for deciding whether a medicine suits a particular person.

What should international visitors keep in mind at a pharmacy?

Carry a passport, state the category of medicine needed, see a physician first for prescription drugs, keep the receipt, and avoid products without a Chinese label or approval number.

Practical points:

• Medicine names differ between countries; show the generic name or the original packaging so the pharmacist can check;
• If unsure whether a medicine is prescription-only or OTC, ask the pharmacist directly;
• For long-term medicines, arrange follow-up visits and prescriptions in advance rather than waiting until supply runs low;
• Keep receipts and packaging for insurance claims or later consultations;
• Do not buy prescription drugs through personal shoppers, social platforms, or informal channels.

For the hospital dispensing step, see what to expect at a hospital visit in China. Carrying personal medicines across the border is a separate customs and drug-regulation matter, covered in bringing prescription drugs into China. Other common questions are in the international patient FAQ.

Which practices are not permitted?

Buying prescription drugs without a prescription, asking a pharmacy to change or substitute prescribed drugs, and buying through irregular channels all conflict with China's drug rules.

Specifically:

• asking a pharmacy to sell a prescription drug without a prescription;
• asking a pharmacist to change or substitute a drug listed on a prescription;
• buying medicines from a place or person without a Drug Business Licence;
• buying products with no approval number, no Chinese label, or no identifiable source;
• using supplements in place of medicine to treat a disease.

Following these rules is both a legal requirement and a basic condition for safe medicine use. Any question about a specific medicine should be answered by a licensed physician or pharmacist based on the individual case.

Reference sources

1. Interim Measures for the Classified Administration of Prescription and Non-prescription Drugs (Order No. 10 of the State Drug Administration), The State Council of China, accessed 2026-10-22: https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/2021-07/03/content_5723538.htm
2. Interim Measures for the Classified Administration of Prescription and Non-prescription Drugs, National Medical Products Administration, accessed 2026-10-22: https://www.nmpa.gov.cn/yaopin/ypfgwj/ypfgbmgzh/19990618010101883.html
3. Drug Administration Law of the People's Republic of China (2019 revision), Articles 54 and 58, republished by the Jiangsu Provincial Health Commission, accessed 2026-10-22: https://wjw.jiangsu.gov.cn/art/2023/2/27/art_49492_10770395.html

Medical information notice: This article provides general information only. It is not medical or medication advice and does not provide dosage, course, or combination regimens. Whether to use a medicine, and which medicine, is decided by a licensed physician's diagnosis and prescription; pharmacy questions may be directed to a licensed pharmacist.

Prepared by the Medical Escort Team, Liaoning Taimu Business Technology Co., Ltd. Policy information checked 2026-10-22.