US health chief lauds China for help with opioid control

BEIJING (AP) - U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price says China has been an "incredible partner" in cracking down on synthetic opioids seen as fueling fast-rising overdose deaths in the United States.

Speaking Monday during a visit to Beijing, Price said China has been quick to respond when regulators identify a problem drug such as fentanyl, the powerful opioid blamed for thousands of fatal overdoses, including the death of entertainer Prince.

Price said the more difficult challenge stems from the ability of producers to come up with new drugs that aren't on the list of banned substances. He said he's been in discussions with his counterparts on ways to respond more quickly to the emergence of those new drugs.

Price also expressed support for continued funding of the World Health Organization.