Hong Kong has what it takes to be a medical hub
- City has the expertise – and connections with mainland China – to be a serious and world-leading player in the biomedical industry
Hong Kong’s potential for becoming a super connector with the world for the mainland is not limited to business and investment.
It is to be found, for example, in the push to become a health and medical innovation hub, building on a world-class health system and a solid academic research base.
It was once envisaged that the city could become a medical tourism hub – for those who could afford it. Now it aspires to be a centre for clinical trials of drugs and treatments that could benefit all of mankind.
In his policy address, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu announced the establishment of a clinical trial institute in the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Zone.
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It will be a one-stop clinical trial support platform for medical research institutions and a step towards Hong Kong’s aim to develop its own drug approval system for international reference.
Lee said the institute would coordinate clinical trial resources in the city’s public and private healthcare sectors and explore cooperation with clinical trial networks on the mainland, especially in the Greater Bay Area.
Health sector experts sensed the possibilities for international collaboration tapping into Hong Kong’s experience and the mainland’s huge pool of patients and scholars.
Sabrina Chan So-kuen, senior executive director of the Hong Kong Association of the Pharmaceutical Industry, said the city had many renowned researchers and good clinical trial centres, while the mainland had a bigger pool of patients for trials.
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Professor Ronald Ma Ching-wan, co-director of Chinese University’s faculty of medicine biobank, said the institute could facilitate collaboration between scholars in Hong Kong and the mainland, promoting biomedical research in the area.
There could also be more local collaborations with hospitals and universities in the Greater Bay Area to develop large-scale studies or clinical trials.
Hong Kong has a good track record of taking part in international large-scale clinical trials, a high level of experience and a solid reputation.
Hong Kong could become a recognised centre of excellence for international collaboration in health and medical research. As an ageing society, its people would be among the ultimate beneficiaries.
