Restrictions on the purchase of medicines by social security card

Participants who buy prescription drugs at designated retail pharmacies must strictly follow the state regulations with a prescription from a licensed physician or a licensed physician assistant before they can be dispensed, purchased and used. As to which drugs are prescription drugs, it is standardized by the state. Participants with a doctor's prescription can buy prescription drugs at designated retail pharmacies as long as the balance in their individual accounts is sufficient to cover the cost of the current medication, and there is no requirement for a minimum accumulation amount in their individual accounts.

Legal basis

The full text of the Social Insurance Law of the People's Republic of China, Article 64 of the Social Insurance Fund includes the Basic Pension Insurance Fund, the Basic Medical Insurance Fund, the Industrial Accident Insurance Fund, the Unemployment Insurance Fund and the Maternity Insurance Fund. With the exception of the basic medical insurance fund and the maternity insurance fund, which are combined and accounted for in a single account, the other social insurance funds are accounted for separately according to the type of social insurance risk and are accounted for in separate accounts. The social insurance fund implements the State's unified accounting system. Social insurance funds are earmarked for specific purposes, and may not be appropriated or misappropriated by any organization or individual. The basic pension insurance fund to gradually implement national coordination, other social insurance funds to gradually implement the provincial level, the specific time and steps prescribed by the State Council.