Secretary for Health Prof Lo Chung-mau met National Health Commission Vice-minister Guo Yanhong in Beijing today to introduce the Policy Address initiatives to develop Hong Kong into an international health and medical innovation hub, and deepen its healthcare reforms.

He noted in the meeting that the Resolution of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee on Further Deepening Reform Comprehensively to Advance Chinese Modernization adopted by the Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee mentions the further reform of the medical and healthcare systems, and support for the development of innovative drugs and medical devices.

Additionally, the Development Plan for Shenzhen Park of Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science & Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone promulgated by the State Council, put forward the co-ordinated development of “one zone, two parks” between Shenzhen and Hong Kong, expressing clear support for the innovative application of advanced biomedicine technologies.

The health chief highlighted that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government is determined to leverage the advantages of the “one country, two systems” principle and Hong Kong's healthcare professional system to develop the city into an international health and medical innovation hub to expedite patients' access to advanced diagnostic and treatment services and promote biomedicine research and development, while actively integrating into the national development by showing support for fostering new quality productive forces in biomedicine technologies as set out in the resolution and development plan.

The Greater Bay Area International Clinical Trial Institute wholly owned by the Hong Kong SAR Government opened last month in the Hong Kong Park of the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science & Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone (HTCZ). While the Greater Bay Area International Clinical Trials Center of the Shenzhen Municipality opened in the Shenzhen Park at the same time. The establishment of “one institute, one centre” marked the first benchmark for co-ordinated development under “one zone, two parks” of the HTCZ, he added.

In terms of deepening reform of the healthcare system, Prof Lo emphasised that the reform seeks to improve healthcare protection and quality as well as strengthen the sustainability of the public healthcare system to enhance citizens' health.

"The Hong Kong SAR Government will continue improving public healthcare services, scaling up medical collaboration in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and exploring the setting up of a standing organ transplant mutual assistance mechanism, with a view to upholding the global standing and regional advantage of Hong Kong's healthcare professions."