Hospital Authority Implements Streamlined Procedures to Boost Clinical Research in Hong Kong

Hospital Authority streamlines clinical research approval to promote medical research development

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

The Hospital Authority (HA) held a sharing session today (July 31) with representatives from the Greater Bay Area International Clinical Trial Institute (GBAICTI) and Hong Kong's pharmaceutical industry to outline a series of enhancement measures implemented by the HA for promoting clinical research development, including the recently implemented streamlined approval procedures aiming at attracting more clinical research projects from the industry.

Last year, the HA established a Central Clinical Research and Innovation Office and Cluster Clinical Research Support Offices in each cluster to provide support for frontline healthcare professionals and proactively encourage participation in clinical research. In April this year, the HA further enhanced the application and approval procedures for commercially sponsored clinical research, including revising the long-standing standard clinical research agreement template to provide more up-to-date content and balance the interests of all parties. The HA has also engaged a professional organisation to assist in the review and approval of commercially sponsored clinical research applications, expediting the approval process and timeframe through the incorporation of industry expertise.

The Director (Quality and Safety) of the HA, Dr Michael Wong, expressed confidence that the new measures will promote the clinical research development. "As a key player in local clinical research with professional medical teams and extensive healthcare data, the HA has been aligning with government policies and engaging in communication and exchange with various healthcare institutions and industry stakeholders. Through optimising processes and streamlining approval procedures, the HA aims to facilitate efficient implementation and execution of clinical research, fostering a more conducive environment for medical innovation and enhancing Hong Kong's competitiveness in international clinical research."

About 100 participants in the sharing session included members and representatives from the GBAICTI and the Hong Kong Association of the Pharmaceutical Industry, who had in-depth exchanges on the development of clinical research in Hong Kong.

The HA Central Institutional Review Board (Central IRB) completed the integration of all cluster Research Ethics Committees in March 2024 and has processed over 1 000 clinical research applications. The Central IRB serves as a co-ordinator and has been further streamlining the research ethics application and approval process and facilitating cross-cluster clinical research applications. Following process optimisation, simple clinical research applications can now be processed through an expedited review procedure, with approval times significantly reduced to within 30 days, while the ethics review for complex research applications can be completed within 60 days.

The HA will continue to dovetail with government policy directions and the needs of the pharmaceutical industry, deepen collaboration with the GBAICTI, and fully support various clinical research applications, thereby promoting Hong Kong's medical and scientific research, enhancing healthcare standards, and benefitting patients.

Hospital Authority streamlines clinical research approval to promote medical research development Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Employers, contractors and employees should be aware of electrical safety at work during rainstorms

As the rainstorm warning has been issued by the Hong Kong Observatory, the Labour Department (LD) reminds employers and contractors that they should adopt necessary work arrangements and take suitable safety measures to protect the safety of their employees when they are carrying out electrical work or handling electrical plant.

A spokesman for the LD said today (June 6) that employers and contractors should avoid assigning employees to carry out electrical work (such as electric arc welding work) or handle electrical plant at places affected by rainstorms, and should refer to the "Code of Practice in Times of Adverse Weather and 'Extreme Conditions'" and the "Guide on Safety at Work in times of Inclement Weather" issued by the LD.

Even if electrical work is carried out or electrical plant is handled at places not affected by a rainstorm, suitable safety measures must still be adopted to prevent an electric shock as the air would be more humid. Such measures include:

(i) Ensure that all live parts of an electrical installation are isolated from the power supply source and rendered dead, and the isolation from the power supply source must be maintained as long as electrical work is being carried out;

(ii) Before carrying out any electrical work or handling any electrical plant, cut off and lock out the power supply source, then test the circuit concerned to confirm that it is dead and display suitable warning notices, and issue a work permit thereafter;

(iii) Ensure that protective devices (such as suitable and adequate fuses and circuit breakers) for the electrical installations or electrical plant have been installed and maintained in good working order, and portable electric tools must be double-insulated or properly earthed;

(iv) Provide suitable personal protective equipment such as insulating gloves and insulating mats for employees; and

(v) If live electrical work is unavoidable, a comprehensive risk assessment should be conducted by a competent person and the appropriate safety precautions should be taken to remove or properly control the electrical hazards involved before such work can proceed.

In addition, employees should co-operate with the employer or contractor to follow the safety instructions and use the safety equipment provided.

The LD has published guidebooks and leaflets on electrical work safety. These safety publications are available free from divisional offices of the department or can be downloaded from its website (www.labour.gov.hk/eng/public/content2_8.htm).

Should there be any questions about occupational safety and health matters, please contact the Occupational Safety Officer of the LD at 2559 2297.

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