Secretary for Health meets delegation from People's Government of Guangzhou Municipality (with photos)
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Professor Lo said, "The development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) is a key development strategy in the country's reform and opening up in the new era, as well as a further step to enrich the practice of 'one country, two systems'. The objectives of the development of the GBA are to further deepen co-operation amongst Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao, fully leverage the composite advantages of the three places, facilitate in-depth integration within the region, and promote co-ordinated regional economic development, as well as to establish an international first-class bay area ideal for living, working and travelling."
He added, "The constructive discussion today covers the registration and inspection of proprietary Chinese medicine, talent exchange, and an array of measures to cater for the medical needs of Hong Kong citizens residing in cities in the GBA, including extending the coverage of the Elderly Health Care Voucher to an offsite medical institution set up by the University of Hong Kong–Shenzhen Hospital, recommending to launch the Pilot Scheme for Supporting Patients of the Hospital Authority in the GBA on May 10, and expanding the coverage of eligible Hong Kong drugs and medical devices to be used under the measure of using Hong Kong registered drugs and medical devices used in Hong Kong public hospitals in the GBA, etc. These measures have laid a solid foundation for further collaboration between Guangdong and Hong Kong.
"Under the principles of 'complementarity and mutual benefits', the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government will continue to deepen exchanges and co-operation with the Mainland in the medical field, thereby building a 'Healthy Hong Kong' and integration into the nation's 'Healthy China'. Taking Chinese medicine (CM) as an example, the Chief Executive announced multiple policy initiatives in the 2022 Policy Address, including formulation of the overall CM development blueprint in collaboration with the CM sector, in a bid to drive further the long-term development of CM in Hong Kong on all fronts in a more focused manner, in areas such as CM service and industry development as well as collaboration with the Mainland, the GBA and the international community."
Accompanying Professor Lo at the meeting were the Director of Health, Dr Ronald Lam; the Chief Executive of the Hospital Authority, Dr Tony Ko; and the Deputy Secretaries for Health Mr Sam Hui and Mr Eddie Lee.
Ends/Thursday, May 4, 2023
Issued at HKT 17:46
Issued at HKT 17:46
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