Patients wait to collect their drugs at The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital on March 22, 2021. (PHOTO PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY)

SHENZHEN – The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital may soon launch the first batch of Hong Kong-approved drugs and medical devices without requiring prior certification from the National Medical Products Administration. 

Lo Chung-mau, chief executive of the hospital, said on Monday that they have applied for provincial permits of 54 products, which are under final examination, and will start a pilot run of the approved medicines in a few months. 

The central authorities last year issued a work plan for Regulatory Innovation and Development of Pharmaceutical and Medical Device in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.  

Lo Chung-mau, chief executive of the hospital, said on Monday that they have applied for provincial permits of 54 products, which are under final examination, and will start a pilot run of the approved medicines in a few months

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Existing regulations require yearslong mandatory prior certification procedures with the NMPA, but the new plan allows eligible products to be imported, marketed and used in the Bay Area cities in Guangdong without NMPA certifications. They only need to obtain provincial permits. 

As the first hospital to implement such a policy, The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital had been exploring new importing procedures for medical products, including price negotiation, transportation, custom check, tax declaration and supervision after usage, said Lo. 

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These products cover a wide range of departments, including obstetrics and gynecology, oncology and dermatology. 

“Our principle is to select those of urgent demand, but with few substitutes on the mainland, or with significantly approved results from a clinical perspective,” he added.