The Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau, and his delegation called on the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) on their last day of visit to Beijing today (November 8).

     Professor Lo and his delegation met with Deputy Commissioner of the NMPA Mr Zhao Junning. The two parties exchanged views on boosting closer collaboration between the Mainland and Hong Kong on matters such as approval of drugs and medical devices, and clinical trial work.

     Professor Lo introduced the announcement of developing Hong Kong into a health and medical innovation hub by the Chief Executive in the Policy Address last month, with an aim to establish a drug approval authority based on "Primary Evaluation" in the long run.

     Professor Lo said, "The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government will leverage the city's medical strengths in a more proactive and efficient manner. The specific measures to establish a drug approval authority based on 'Primary Evaluation' in the long run include the set-up of a preparatory office for the Hong Kong Centre for Medical Products Regulation; accession to the International Council for Harmonisation of Technical Requirements for Pharmaceuticals for Human Use; the establishment of the Greater Bay Area International Clinical Trial Institute; promotion of clinical research and trials under the Hospital Authority (HA); and the establishment of the new '1+' mechanism for expediting the approval of new drugs." 

     "We anticipate to attract more local, Mainland and overseas pharmaceutical and medical device enterprises to conduct research and development and clinical trials in Hong Kong, and build up the capacity, recognition and status to ensure that the eventual approval mechanism of drugs and medical devices of Hong Kong would be widely recognised internationally and by the Mainland. As such, we have rolled out/will roll out a series of measures."

     Members of the delegation include the Permanent Secretary for Health, Mr Thomas Chan; the Director of Health, Dr Ronald Lam; the Chairman of the HA, Mr Henry Fan; and the Chief Executive of the HA, Dr Tony Ko. The delegation will return to Hong Kong tonight.

Ends/Wednesday, November 8, 2023
Issued at HKT 14:00

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