The “1+” mechanism for drug registration and approval will be expanded from November to cover all new chemical entities, with a view to giving patients more choices of drugs at lower costs, Secretary for Health Prof Lo Chung-mau said today.

Responding to media questions after appearing on a radio programme this morning, Prof Lo said that it will be possible for any new chemical entity, including vaccines and advanced therapy products, to get registered in Hong Kong through the new “1+” mechanism.

“Advanced therapy products mean not just drugs in the usual sense, but self-therapy or gene therapy, which involve the processing of patients’ own blood for treatment of very advanced cancers or diseases. This is very important.

“We anticipate that with more and more drug companies aware of this, we are able to allow patients in Hong Kong, and even in the Greater Bay Area (GBA), to enjoy more advanced therapy products or new drugs of the most advanced (kind), thus elevating and improving the healthcare standard in the whole area.

“And secondly, with more choices of drugs, the cost of these new treatments, drugs or new advanced therapy products will be lowered.

“Thirdly, it will promote the development of R&D, research and development, in the area. This will be very important for the development of the R&D in the whole GBA.”

Elaborating on the GBA dimension, Prof Lo said that through a “connect” measure, drugs and medical devices which have not yet been registered in the Mainland but are already registered and used in Hong Kong, can be used in specific healthcare institutions in the GBA.

“This is very attractive for pharmaceutical companies because once the drugs or medical devices are approved and registered in Hong Kong and used in the public hospitals, these drugs and devices will be able to have a ‘green channel’ for use (among) the 68 million population in the GBA.”