The World Health Organization (WHO) has highlighted the crucial role of traditional medicine in global healthcare systems, advocating for its evidence-based integration during the fifth WHO expert meeting on the development of the international herbal pharmacopoeia in Hong Kong.

Starting on Tuesday, the three-day event brings together experts from six different WHO regions to talk about and promote consistent quality standards for certain herbal medicines worldwide. According to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government, the Chinese Medicine Regulatory Office in Hong Kong, which works with the WHO on traditional medicine, is actively helping to create detailed guides on herbal medicines and contributing to technical efforts related to this field.

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The WHO emphasized that the development of the international herbal pharmacopoeia is aimed at establishing harmonized quality standards, enhancing regulatory capacity, and ensuring the safety and quality of traditional medicine products. This initiative is a strategic objective of the WHO Global Traditional Medicine Strategy 2025-2034, endorsed by the World Health Assembly in 2025.

At the event's opening, Director of Health Ronald Lam Man-kin affirmed Hong Kong's commitment to advancing Chinese medicine in line with the National 15th Five-Year Plan. "We will leverage Hong Kong's expertise in herbal medicine standards, testing, and quality control while working closely with the WHO to ensure the standardization, safety, and quality of traditional herbal medicines," he said.

Lam also highlighted the international recognition of the Hong Kong Chinese Materia Medica Standards, which has published 12 volumes covering 357 standards since 2002. The Government Chinese Medicines Testing Institute, equipped with advanced technology, will continue to enhance testing methods and promote the high-quality development of Chinese medicine.

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Hong Kong's unique position under the "one country, two systems" framework allows it to serve as a bridgehead for the global dissemination of Chinese medicine, with strong support from the Chinese mainland and international connections, he added.

Sherman Fung, former director of SGS Hong Kong Ltd’s Bio-Science division of China and the Hong Kong SAR, told China Daily that the selection of Hong Kong as the venue underscores the city's esteemed position and professional strength in the standardization of traditional medicine. “The conference is particularly timely as it aligns with Hong Kong's ongoing regulatory reforms through the Hong Kong Centre for Medical Products Regulation, set to be established by the end of the year.”

The development enhances the city’s international influence and leadership in setting herbal medicine standards, strengthening Hong Kong’s position as a global hub for innovation and standardization in the industry, he added.

Contact the writer at irismuk@chinadailyhk.com