Brain-computer interface Photo: VCG

To support the innovative development of drugs and medical devices, China's National Healthcare Security Administration has established a pricing mechanism for the launch of new drugs and added over 100 price items related to new medical care technologies, including brain-computer interface, China Media Group (CMG) reported on Thursday.

The administration has facilitated the charging pathway for new technologies, helping accelerate revenue returns for new technologies and products urgently needed in clinical settings. The 30 batches of project guidelines announced so far have added over 100 price items related to new products and devices, according to the report. 

For instance, the guidelines for neurological systems have uniformly established price items such as "brain-computer interface implantation fee" and "brain-computer interface adaptation fee." Once brain-computer interface technology matures and is approved for clinical use, it can quickly enter clinical application and be charged for, the CMG reported.

The guidelines for otolaryngology have uniformly established price items such as "cochlear implant fee" and "speech device installation fee." The guidelines for radiation therapy have uniformly established price items such as "proton therapy" and "heavy ion therapy," promoting the clinical application and transformation of high-end medical equipment.

At the same time, to encourage innovation in drug development, the National Healthcare Security Administration has established a pricing mechanism for the launch of new drugs, per the report.

Stocks related to BCI technology increased, with Innovative Medical closing higher, up 7.72 percent, followed by gains in stocks such as Jiangsu Apon Medical Technology Co and Sanbo Hospital Management Group.

"As a leading Chinese company in non-invasive BRI and neuro-regulation technology, we believe the National Healthcare Security Administration's support presents both opportunities and challenges," Cai Shengan, CEO of the Wuhan Yiruide Medical Equipment New Technology Co, told Global Times on Thursday. 

"The opportunities primarily lie in the policy addressing the issue of 'hospitals' reluctance to procure' and accelerating technology monetization. Additionally, the policy's requirements for localization boost our confidence in consolidating domestic technological advantages and enhance our enthusiasm for R&D investment," Cai noted.

The challenges mainly stem from the increased technical threshold and the rising costs of ethical and regulatory compliance, Cai said, adding that the company will continue to drive BCI technology from high-end medical applications to widespread use through technological innovation and compliant practices.

 "Establishing pricing items for BCI technology helps accelerate the clinical application. Once the technology matures, medical billing for BCI will be governed by clear regulations," Pan Helin, a member of the Expert Committee for the Information and Communication Economy under the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, told the Global Times on Thursday.

Pan noted that it will take time for BCI technology to enter clinical practice, and China has already begun trials to address clinical needs, steadily advancing the integration of the technology into clinical settings.

According to a report by the Xinhua News Agency on June 14, a Chinese man who lost all four limbs in a high-voltage electrical accident 13 years ago can now play chess and racing games using only his mind, after a revolutionary procedure in Shanghai in which a BCI was implanted in his brain.

This is China's first-in-human clinical trial of an invasive BCI, and an important step in the transition of this technology from laboratory research to clinical application, according to Xinhua.

The trial is a collaboration between research teams from the Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and Huashan Hospital affiliated with Fudan University. Their work makes China the second country, after the US, to advance invasive BCI technology to the clinical trial stage, per Xinhua.

Since the device was implanted in March 2025, it has operated stably in the patient's brain, with no infection or electrode failure reported to date, according to the research team.

China has long focused on BCI technology. The country's 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25) listed "brain science and brain-like intelligence technology" as a national key frontier technology project. In February 2025, the National Medical Products Administration initiated the establishment of industry standards for BCI technology in medical devices.

Global Times