S for Health meets Guangdong Provincial Medical Products Administration delegation (with photos)
27.3.2023

The Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau, met with a delegation led by the General Director of the Guangdong Provincial Medical Products Administration (GDMPA), Mr Jiang Xiaodong, today (March 27) to discuss and exchange views on issues including the implementation of the "Memorandum of Understanding on Drugs and Medical Devices Monitoring and Co-operation in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area" signed after the Hong Kong/Guangdong Co-operation Joint Conference last week, and further collaboration in relation to the regulation of Chinese and western medicines as well as medical devices. The Permanent Secretary for Health, Mr Thomas Chan; the Under Secretary for Health, Dr Libby Lee; the Director of Health, Dr Ronald Lam; Deputy Secretary for Health Mr Eddie Lee; the Project Director of the Chinese Medicine Hospital Project Office, Dr Cheung Wai-lun; Acting Deputy Secretary for Health Mr Gordon Chong; and the Head of the Chinese Medicine Unit, Ms Ellen Chan, also attended the meeting. Professor Lo said, "The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government expresses sincere gratitude to the GDMPA for its staunch support for Hong Kong in the past, including the implementation of the initiatives of, among others, the measure of using Hong Kong registered drugs and medical devices used in Hong Kong public hospitals in Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), and streamlining of the approval procedures for Hong Kong registered traditional proprietary Chinese medicines (pCms) for external use to be registered and sold in the Mainland." "The Government and the GDMPA agreed at the meeting to further deepen collaboration in relevant areas, including, in respect of collaboration on the regulation of Chinese medicines (CM), the formulation of GBA Chinese medicine standards, cross-boundary production of Hong Kong pCms, as well as registration and sale of Hong Kong-registered pCms in the Mainland, whereas in respect of other collaboration on regulation of drugs and medical devices, the measure of using Hong Kong registered drugs and medical devices used in Hong Kong public hospitals in Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, clinical trials, etc. Both parties will maintain close liaison, including convening regular meetings, with a view to taking forward the various initiatives and following up on the implementation of 'Memorandum of Understanding on Drugs and Medical Devices Monitoring and Co-operation in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area'." The delegation then had in-depth discussion with Dr Lam, and other representatives from the Department of Health (DH). The delegation was briefed by DH representatives on the regulation and development of Chinese and western medicines as well as medical devices in Hong Kong. The GDMPA delegation arrived in Hong Kong yesterday (March 26) for a three-day visit. They paid a visit to the Government Chinese Medicines Testing Institute (GCMTI) managed by the DH and located at the Hong Kong Science Park. The delegation learned about CM drug testing and research work by the GCMTI through touring its facilities including various laboratories and the Chinese Medicines Herbarium. The delegation will also meet with the CM sector and visit facilities of two pCm manufacturers and one western medicine manufacturer. The Central Government promulgated the Work Plan for Regulatory Innovation and Development of Pharmaceutical and Medical Device in the GBA (Work Plan) in November 2020. Under the Work Plan, the holder of any traditional pCms for external use that has been registered and sold in Hong Kong and Macao may apply for registration with the GDMPA through streamlined procedures. Such pCm, upon successful approval, may be sold in the Mainland. The GDMPA officially started accepting relevant applications in September 2021. Currently, a total of 10 pCm products for external use from Hong Kong and Macao have been approved to be sold in the Mainland under the streamlined approval procedures. The Work Plan has also permitted designated healthcare institutions operating in the Mainland cities of the GBA to use Hong Kong-registered drugs, and medical devices used in Hong Kong public hospitals with urgent clinical use and advanced clinical applications. The HKSAR Government and the relevant Mainland authorities commenced implementation of the measure at the University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital on a trial basis in January 2021. The GDMPA and the Health Commission of Guangdong Province then announced in August 2021 the extension of the implementation to nine Mainland cities in the GBA. Up to March 2023, a total of 23 Hong Kong registered drugs and 13 medical devices are allowed to be used in 19 designated healthcare institutions in the Mainland under the measure. The "Memorandum of Understanding on Drugs and Medical Devices Monitoring and Co-operation in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area" aims to enhance exchanges and co-operation on the regulation of drugs and medical devices in the GBA and establish working mechanisms in various aspects, including information sharing and notification, technical collaboration, standard sharing and talent nurturing.