The Government today welcomed the implementation of a measure to use Hong Kong-registered drugs and medical devices used in Hong Kong public hospitals with urgent clinical use at the University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital (HKU-SZH) on a trial basis.

The measure allows designated healthcare institutions operating in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area to use such drugs and medical devices with urgent clinical use, subject to Guangdong Province's approval.

Announced by the Guangdong Provincial Medical Products Administration (GDMPA), the trial programme at HKU-SZH will last until July 31.

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government has been maintaining close liaison with the relevant Mainland authorities to discuss the trial implementation of the measure at the HKU-SZH.

The work included establishing a collaborative platform and making an agreement on the directory of drugs and medical devices that can be used in designated healthcare institutions in the bay area. 

Secretary for Food & Health Prof Sophia Chan said the Hong Kong SAR Government welcomes the official implementation of the measure, enabling Hong Kong residents to seek suitable healthcare services in the bay area.

She also thanked the Guangdong People’s Government for their staunch support.

Prof Chan pointed out the Hong Kong SAR Government will continue to work and liaise closely with the GDMPA to implement the measure to expand the directory of drugs and medical devices as soon as possible and extend the arrangement gradually to cover more designated healthcare institutions in the bay area after achieving phased progress under the trial arrangement at the HKU-SZH.

It hopes to provide greater medical convenience for Hong Kong residents working and living in the bay area, foster mutual benefits, connectivity and in-depth integration of the medical and pharmaceutical industries in the bay area, as well as to improve the level of healthcare services there, she added.    

Through the measure, the first drug item, Anti-D (Rho) immunoglobulins injection, and the first medical device, magnetically controlled growing rods, have already been delivered to the HKU-SZH on April 16 for clinical use. 

Anti-D (Rho) immunoglobulins injection can be used to prevent hemolysis of the newborn when RhD-negative women get pregnant again, while magnetically controlled growing rods can be used to correct severe spinal deformities in children. 

Additionally, HKU-SZH’s applications for new imported drugs for treating lung cancer, lymphoma and severe chronic obstructive lung disease have also been approved.