Physicians sort traditional Chinese medicine at a hospital in Yingkou, Liaoning province, on Sunday. TCM has been put forward as a treatment for COVID-19. (PHOTO / XINHUA)
As the world was plagued by COVID-19, Chinese scientist, Zhang Boli, showed the clinical success of traditional Chinese medicine, such as lianhua qingwen capsules, Yinqiaosan granules and Maxingshigan decoction at the World Health Organization in March 2020. Such a breakthrough has raised global awareness of Chinese medicine.
At an international academic conference the author attended earlier, professors from British medical schools expressed their desire to learn more about the medical values of Chinese medicine for the benefit of mankind.
It is no easy task to transform traditional Chinese medicine into modern Chinese medicine through scientific research. It is a high-cost, high-risk, and long-term enterprise, the success of which hinges on the central government’s policies and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government’s commitment, as well as the concerted efforts of universities, research and development institutions and the sector
It is no surprise that the modernization of Chinese medicine is currently a hot topic among medical professionals worldwide and one of the burgeoning pillar industries in the Chinese mainland.
In the Outline Development Plan for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area issued in 2019, modern Chinese medicine is one of the strategic emerging industries.
To build a healthy Greater Bay Area, the central government offers support to Hong Kong’s strength as a testing center for Chinese medicine to establish an internationally recognized reference standard for Chinese medicine products together with mainland science and research organizations, aiming to accelerate the standardization and internationalization of Chinese medicine.
ALSO READ: Bigger overseas role for TCM
Recently, the central government sent a delegation to Hong Kong to introduce the content of the national 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25), which supports Hong Kong’s efforts to enhance its status in four emerging sectors, including the international innovation and technology hub. For the first time, it listed Lok Ma Chau Loop (the Loop) as a major cooperation platform for the GBA.
Given the limited local market with only 7.5 million residents in Hong Kong, some local pharmacists hope to conduct scientific research in the Lok Ma Chau Loop with the aim of entering the mainland side of GBA and tapping into the greater market potential of the mainland.
There is no shortage of aspirers striving for the modernization and internationalization of Chinese medicine in Hong Kong. However, without a well-developed cooperation mode in biotechnology between Hong Kong and Shenzhen, obstacles are inevitable in various aspects, including manufacturing practice, clinical trials, and the rollout of medicine.
The report published by Our Hong Kong Foundation in July, entitled “Strategic Collaborations between Hong Kong and Shenzhen in Biotechnology – Capitalising Opportunities in the Loop for Policy Innovations”, mentioned the prerequisites of developing biotechnology in the Loop.
In addition to perfecting drug discovery, pre-clinical research, clinical trials, production and marketing, it is pivotal to seek breakthroughs in crucial and generic core technologies. Despite frequent interaction between Hong Kong and Shenzhen, a cooperation model has yet to be formalized.
ALSO READ: Mainland hospitals plan to hire HK, Macao TCM practitioners
OHKF suggested that the central government implement policies to strengthen coordination in establishing “one zone, two parks” and grant comprehensive authorization to pilot reform measures in biotechnology.
Moreover, systems and mechanisms of the two places must be harmonized, including those of intellectual property, to speed up the assessment and approval of medicine in the Loop so as to ensure healthy development of biotechnology in the region.
Hong Kong plays a vital role in the modernization and internationalization of Chinese medicine. Local universities and institutes possess top-notch academic expertise in scientific research, which meets international standards.
It is OHKF’s view that knowledge transfer should be encouraged, and specialist professionals in both biotechnology and business should be nurtured in local institutes to facilitate the flow from basic scientific research, to production and rollout. Indeed, it involves talent in different fields in the production of new medicine from discovery, clinical tests to marketing as the latest knowledge and superior skills are required in various phases.
Among aspirational local universities, the School of Chinese Medicine of Hong Kong Baptist University organized the first Master of Science in Drug Discovery (Modernization of Chinese Medicine) program in September to support the modernization of Chinese medicine.
READ MORE: TCM plays big role in tackling Delta strain
It is no easy task to transform traditional Chinese medicine into modern Chinese medicine through scientific research. It is a high-cost, high-risk, and long-term enterprise, the success of which hinges on the central government’s policies and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government’s commitment, as well as the concerted efforts of universities, research and development institutions and the sector. The modernization of Chinese medicine can lead mankind to a new path of health.
The author is managing editor of the Our Hong Kong Foundation.