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Norman Ng: Libby Lee Chaired the 3rd Meeting of the Steering Committee on Health and Medical Innovation Development

Norman Ng and Libby Lee

Jun 18, 2025, 13:44

Norman Ng: Libby Lee Chaired the 3rd Meeting of the Steering Committee on Health and Medical Innovation Development

Norman Ng, Director of Patient Advocacy and Public Affairs at Healthcare Thinkers, shared a post on LinkedIn:

“The Under Secretary for Health, Dr Libby Lee, chaired the third meeting of the Steering Committee on Health and Medical Innovation Development today (June 12) to have in-depth discussions on various key policy initiatives for promoting Hong Kong’s development into an international health and medical innovation hub, including a roadmap for the establishment of the Hong Kong Centre for Medical Products Regulation (CMPR) and towards the adoption of “primary evaluation”, proposals for establishing the Real-World Study and Application Centre (RWSAC), and the work on promoting clinical trial development.

A representative of the Department of Health (DH) reported on the latest developments in establishing the CMPR, and the strategic preparatory work for its long-term development into an internationally recognised regulatory authority for drugs and medical products, including the process for becoming a regulatory member of the International Council for Harmonisation of Technical Requirements for Pharmaceuticals for Human Use, with a view to gaining international recognition for drugs approved by the CMPR.

The DH also proposed that Hong Kong should adopt a phased approach in advancing the “primary evaluation” system for new drugs. The Government will put forward the timetable for the establishment of the CMPR and the roadmap towards the adoption of “primary evaluation” within this month.

“Hong Kong possesses the institutional advantages of ‘one country, two systems’ and professional strengths in the healthcare sector, providing unique conditions for advancing health and medical innovation.

This strategic positioning is strongly supported by national policies, of which the 14th Five-Year Plan expressed clear support for Hong Kong’s development into an international innovation and technology centre, while the Resolution of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee on Further Deepening Reform Comprehensively to Advance Chinese Modernization adopted by the Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee also pointed out the need of further reforming the medical and healthcare systems, and improving the mechanisms for supporting the development of innovative drugs and medical equipment.

The HKSAR Government will leverage Hong Kong’s unique advantages to expedite the provision of advanced diagnostic and treatment technologies to patients, and to promote co-ordinated development with other GBA cities, with the ultimate goal of bringing the benefits of good drugs and R&D to Hong Kong.””

Libby Lee