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SCMP Editorial

Medical innovation in Hong Kong has suffered because the city does not have a local process for approving prescription drugs. That obstacle is now on track to be cleared with a new regulatory centre that will help patients and the sector.
The Hong Kong Centre for Medical Products Regulation will be set up in the 2026-27 financial year.
Health authorities recently told the Post that a preparatory office for the project was established in June to engage local and overseas experts and possibly to arrange for staff to receive training.
Establishing a process for primary approvals of drugs is an important step on Hong Kong’s path to becoming a health and medical innovation hub, a goal outlined by city leader John Lee Ka-chiu in his policy address last October.
It also would further Beijing’s plans to make Hong Kong a global centre for innovation and technology.
Currently, drugs can only be prescribed in Hong Kong if they are registered in at least two of 36 countries specified by the Department of Health. The list includes mainland China and the United States.
Local researchers say drug reviews conducted here would open doors to more clinical trials in the city and faster approvals. For now, Hong Kong only has observer status in an international council of drug regulators.
The city will need more specialists able to handle drug testing, evaluation, approval and registration. The new centre, universities and the medical sector must ramp up training along with a talent search.
Patient advocacy groups warn that a local review system will need years to ramp up to match the pace of approvals by overseas regulators.
Pharmaceutical firms also will need to be convinced to break with tradition and choose Hong Kong first instead of their traditional debut markets in the US and Europe.
Authorities should be encouraged to press on. A primary drug review mechanism could draw investment supporting the wider medical system. Clinical trial investments have been shown to generate financial returns of eight times the initial amount.
Better healthcare is another strong motivation, since patients can expect a wider range of improved medications becoming available as much as a year or two faster.


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Hong Kong society

New drug-approval agency just the tonic

Establishing a process for primary approvals of drugs is an important step on Hong Kong’s path to becoming a health and medical innovation hub, a goal outlined by city leader John Lee Ka-chiu. Photo: SCMP / Elson Li

How will Hong Kong’s coming approval regime for medicines help patients? New, better drugs

Illustration: Henry Wong

Professor Ma Cong says more clinical trials can be carried out locally once the city has its own drug review system. Photo: Sun Yeung

The registration of locally developed products would also be much faster under the new drug approval system, a professor says. Photo: Jelly Tse

Authorities plan to set up Hong Kong Centre for Medical Products Regulation in 2026-27. Photo: Shutterstock

Karl Tsim, chair professor at HKUST life science division, says Hong Kong still needs to bring in talent to establish the new system and train locals. Photo: Jonathan Wong

Extended paid maternity leave led to 22% drop in Hong Kong’s postnatal depression cases

Researchers have said the mental health of mothers remains “concerning” despite signs of improving due to the policy change. Photo: Shutterstock

Postnatal depression, also known as post-partum depression, is a mood disorder that can set in shortly after giving birth. Photo: Shutterstock

Opinion

Comment

Hong Kong has the capacity, funding and expertise to set up a centre to test and register new life-saving products to benefit our healthcare system and economy


Hong Kong has the capacity, funding and expertise to set up a centre to test and register new life-saving products to benefit our healthcare system and economy.


Hong Kong healthcare and hospitals

Expresses the views, ideas and conclusions of the author. (Eg. Enough of Crazy Rich Asians, think of crazy poor Hongkongers.)


Column

Editorial

Editorial | New drug-approval agency just the tonic

Hong Kong has the capacity, funding and expertise to set up a centre to test and register new life-saving products to benefit our healthcare system and economy