OTC Class A drugs, OTC Class B drugs and what you said "Class A drugs refer to the ones that are basically unified across the country, can ensure the basic needs of clinical treatment, are widely used and have good curative effects...", Not the same thing. The former refers to “over-the-counter drugs” and the latter refers to “basic medical insurance drugs”.
1. OTC refers to over-the-counter drugs
Drugs with the OTC logo on the packaging are over-the-counter drugs. The concept of over-the-counter drugs: drugs that consumers can judge, purchase and use by themselves without a prescription from a licensed physician or licensed assistant physician. If the OTC logo is red, it means a Class A over-the-counter drug. If the OTC logo is green, it means a Class B over-the-counter drug. The selection principle of OTC drugs is "safe application, accurate efficacy, stable quality, and convenient use." Category B is safer than Category A.
2. Basic medical insurance drugs
Basic medical insurance drugs are selected on the basis of the "National Essential Drugs" and divided into Category A and Category B. The selection principle of Class A basic medical insurance drugs for basic medical insurance is "drugs that are clinically necessary, widely used, good in efficacy, and low-priced among similar drugs." Drugs in the Class B list of basic medical insurance drugs "can be used for clinical treatment selection, It has good curative effect and is slightly more expensive than Class A drugs among similar drugs."
The use of Class A drugs in basic medical insurance is basically unified across the country. Each province can make changes within 10% of Class B drugs based on the province’s medication habits and economic conditions.