Director of Health presents HK's medical innovation development at 2025 Capital International Medical Congress in Beijing
The Director of Health, Dr Ronald Lam, today (September 13) attended the 2025 Capital International Medical Congress in Beijing, where he shed light on various initiatives of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government to promote Hong Kong as an international medical innovation hub. Health authorities and experts from the mainland and overseas attended the congress.
At the invitation of the congress organiser, Dr Lam delivered a keynote speech on the theme of "Openness, Co-operation, Co-construction and Sharing". "HKSAR's health indicators and healthcare quality rank among the world's best. Facing challenges such as aging population, technological advancement, and shifts in lifestyles and environmental conditions, institutional and technological innovation in healthcare will be the best way to ensure the sustainable development of medical services. In alignment with the strategies for healthcare reform and innovation outlined in the 'Chief Executive's 2024 Policy Address', the Department of Health (DH) of the HKSAR will officially establish the Hong Kong Centre for Medical Products Regulation by the end of next year (2026), the Centre will consolidate regulatory functions for Western and Chinese medicines, as well as medical devices, and enhance the existing regulatory regime in a holistic manner. Furthermore, the DH will implement 'primary evaluation' for new drug registration in phases beginning next year, with full implementation by 2030. This initiative will reduce Hong Kong's reliance on overseas regulatory authorities for 'secondary evaluation' (i.e. applicants must provide approval from the drug regulatory authorities of at least two reference places for registration in Hong Kong). The initiative will also help the HKSAR to develop an internationally renowned medical products regulatory authority, drive the development of the local healthcare and biotechnology industries, and enable the public to benefit from the latest scientific research. Patients will have earlier access to innovative medical products that have been proven to be safe and effective, achieving the goal of making effective drugs and medical devices available in Hong Kong," he said.
"Thanks to the strong support of the nation and leveraging the advantages of 'One Country, Two Systems', the HKSAR has been accepted as an observer by the International Council for Harmonisation of Technical Requirements for Pharmaceuticals for Human Use (ICH). We will now actively pursue membership to promote the recognition of registration approvals in Hong Kong internationally, continuously injecting strong momentum into the development of the healthcare industries in Hong Kong and the Mainland," Dr Lam added.
Dr Lam's visit to Beijing was at the invitation of the Beijing Municipal Health Commission (BJHC) to attend the 2025 China International Fair for Trade in Services. During his stay, he led a delegation from the DH to meet with relevant public health and medical products regulatory institutions in Beijing to deepen exchanges and collaboration. Additionally, over the past three days (September 10-12), the delegation called on the National Health Commission (NHC), National Disease Control and Prevention Administration (NDCPA), the Department of Medical Emergency Response and the Department of Medical Administration. They were received by the Vice Minister of the NHC and the Administrator of the NDCPA, Professor Shen Hongbing. The delegation also called on the Health and Quarantine Department of the General Administration of Customs, the National Center for Mental Health and the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
During these meetings, the delegation and the Mainland officials engaged in in-depth discussions on a wide range of public health issues, including joint prevention mechanism in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area; the latest developments in communicable disease surveillance; vaccination programmes; chronic disease prevention and control; cancer screening and prevention; port health quarantine measures; mental health promotion; professional exchange initiatives; and enhancing the regulation of drugs and medical devices. The DH also signed agreements with the BJHC and the Beijing Municipal Disease Prevention and Control Administration. These agreements lay a solid foundation for deepening future co-operation, and the sharing of experiences, resources and achievements. The capacity and accessibility of medical and health service systems in both places will also be greatly enhanced.
The DH delegation concluded its visit to Beijing today and returned to Hong Kong.
Director of Health presents HK's medical innovation development at 2025 Capital International Medical Congress in Beijing Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
