[Chen Muhua holds meeting on contraceptives]

On February 19, Chen Muhua, vice premier of the State Council and head of the family planning leading group, held a discussion with responsible comrades of the State Council's Family Planning Office, the State Pharmaceutical Administration, the Ministry of Chemical Industry, the State Planning Commission, the Ministry of Finance and other departments concerned with the production and supply of contraceptive drugs and devices. Vice Premier Chen Muhua pointed out: Contraceptive drugs and devices are the material guarantees for the practice of family planning. Doing a good job in the production and supply of contraceptives is a political task. It is hoped that from now on all departments concerned will pay still greater attention to it. Vice Premier Chen Muhua put forward 4 points: 1. To control population, the stress should be placed on contraception. This is the basic way. 2. It is necessary to popularize in an all-round way methods of using contraceptive drugs and devices. 3. Supply channels should be kept open for the convenience of the masses and to guarantee supplies. 4. It is necessary to strengthen scientific research. The quality and packing of presently available drugs and devices should be improved. At the same time, it is necessary to develop new contraceptive drugs and devices welcomed by the masses. Special efforts should be made in research in the field of Chinese herbal medicine. At the meeting the State Council Family Planning Office and the State Pharmaceutical Administration were instructed to conduct a joint investigation on present production arrangements and supply channels of contraceptive drugs and devices and to adopt effective measures to solve existing problems.