Shenzhen and Hong Kong Enhance Medical Collaboration in Second Task Force Meeting

Second meeting of Task Force for Medical Collaboration between Shenzhen and Hong Kong held

The Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau, and the Director General of the Public Hygiene and Health Commission of Shenzhen Municipality, Ms Wu Hongyan, hosted the second meeting of the Task Force for Medical Collaboration between Shenzhen and Hong Kong in Hong Kong today (December 11). Health officials from both places had in-depth discussions on the continued advancement of cross-boundary medical collaboration between the two cities.

The Health Bureau and the Public Hygiene and Health Commission of Shenzhen Municipality had exchanges and discussions at the Task Force meeting on various work under the Framework Agreement on Medical Collaboration between Shenzhen and Hong Kong signed in September 2023, including healthcare services, hospital quality accreditation on an international level, and clinical trial collaboration, to facilitate the flow of drugs and medical devices, as well as healthcare services between the two places.

Professor Lo said, "The Framework Agreement established multiple medical collaboration initiatives between Shenzhen and Hong Kong. Over the past two years, the collaboration between Shenzhen and Hong Kong has achieved significant progress, with both sides securing solid outcomes in areas such as cross-boundary healthcare services, talent exchange, as well as health and medical innovation, including the Elderly Health Care Voucher Greater Bay Area Pilot Scheme, which was launched in 2024 and achieved full coverage of the nine Mainland cities in the Greater Bay Area (GBA) in mid-2025, and the Pilot Scheme for Direct Cross-boundary Ambulance Transfer in the GBA, which was launched last year."

During the meeting, Professor Lo mentioned that public hospitals in Hong Kong have been adopting the China's International Hospital Accreditation Standards (2021 Version) for accreditation. He said, "By adopting national healthcare standards for accreditation, healthcare institutions in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) can not only enhance their healthcare professional standards and service quality but also facilitate their alignment with the national healthcare service system. This can also demonstrate the excellence of the national healthcare standards to the international community through fully leveraging Hong Kong's distinctive advantages of having strong support from the motherland and close connection with the world, thereby facilitating the national standards in going global."

Regarding the collaboration in biomedicine innovation, Professor Lo said, "In active response to the national strategies and policy guidance, the HKSAR Government established the GBA International Clinical Trial Institute last year and will establish the Real-World Study and Application Centre this year. Through collaboration with cities in the GBA, the HKSAR Government aspires to jointly build the GBA into a leading hub for health and medical innovation both nationally and globally, vigorously developing new quality productive forces.

"Under the principle of complementarity and mutual benefits, and on the premise of benefitting the healthcare development of both the Mainland and Hong Kong, the HKSAR Government will continue to strengthen co-operation on healthcare service development with various Mainland provinces and cities for levelling up healthcare quality. Looking ahead, we will remain committed to fostering healthcare co-operation within the GBA, with a view to contributing to propelling the important national strategy of 'Healthy China' through concerted efforts."

The Chief Executive of the Hospital Authority, Dr Libby Lee, and the Controller of Regulatory Affairs of the Department of Health, Dr Fung Ying, also attended today's meeting.

Second meeting of Task Force for Medical Collaboration between Shenzhen and Hong Kong held Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Second meeting of Task Force for Medical Collaboration between Shenzhen and Hong Kong held Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Woman arrested on suspicion of illegally possessing and selling slimming products containing banned and controlled drug ingredients

​In response to suspected illegal sales of slimming products containing banned and undeclared controlled drug ingredients on social media platforms, the Department of Health (DH) today (December 11) carried out enforcement operations in Tseung Kwan O and Tai Po with the Police. During the operations, a 27-year-old woman was arrested.

Acting upon intelligence, the DH had earlier purchased samples oftwo slimming products via an instant messaging application and sent them to the Government Laboratory for analysis. The test results revealed that one capsule sample, packaged in a black plastic container labelled "HELLO GIRL time to show your figure" (see photo 1), contained sibutramine and frusemide. The other capsule sample, packaged in an unlabelled blue plastic container (see photo 2), contained sibutramine, N-desmethylsibutramine and frusemide. All three ingredients are Part 1 poisons under the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance (Cap. 138) (PPO). The two products concerned are also suspected to be unregistered pharmaceutical products.

The DH urged members of the public who have purchased the products concerned to stop consuming them immediately, and reminded the public not to buy or consume products of doubtful composition or from unknown sources. The DH will continue to investigate the incident and take appropriate follow-up actions.

Sibutramine was once used as an appetite suppressant. Since November 2010, pharmaceutical products containing sibutramine have been banned for use and sale in Hong Kong due to an increased cardiovascular risk. N-desmethylsibutramine is a substance structurally similar to sibutramine. Frusemide is used for the treatment of heart diseases, and its side effects include low blood pressure and electrolyte imbalance. Medicines containing frusemide should be used under a doctor's direction and be supplied on the premises of an Authorized Seller of Poisons (i.e. pharmacy) under the supervision of a registered pharmacist upon a doctor's prescription.

According to the PPO, all pharmaceutical products must be registered with the Pharmacy and Poisons Board of Hong Kong before they can be sold in the market. Illegal sale or possession of unregistered pharmaceutical products or Part 1 poisons are criminal offences. The maximum penalty for each offence upon conviction is a fine of $100,000 and two years' imprisonment.

The DH reminded members of the public that all registered pharmaceutical products should carry a Hong Kong registration number on the package in the format of "HK-XXXXX". The safety, quality and efficacy of unregistered pharmaceutical products are not guaranteed.

People who have purchased the products concerned should stop consuming them immediately and consult healthcare professionals if in doubt or if they feel unwell after consumption. They may submit the products to the Drug Office of the DH at Room 1804-06, 18/F, Wing On Kowloon Centre, 345 Nathan Road, Kowloon, during office hours for disposal.

Weight control should be achieved through a balanced diet and appropriate exercise. The public should consult healthcare professionals before consuming any medication for weight control. They may visit the website of the Drug Office of the DH for "Health message on overweight problem and slimming products" and "Slimming products with undeclared Western drug ingredients" for information.

Woman arrested on suspicion of illegally possessing and selling slimming products containing banned and controlled drug ingredients Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Woman arrested on suspicion of illegally possessing and selling slimming products containing banned and controlled drug ingredients Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases