Secretary for Health Prof Lo Chung-mau, leading a delegation, today toured the National Cancer Centre Singapore, a pharmaceutical company, and a polyclinic before concluding his Singapore trip.

During a visit to Amgen Biotechnology Singapore this morning, Prof Lo emphasised that Hong Kong will continue to leverage its international advantages to actively promote the research and development (R&D) and application of biomedical technologies.

"Through the establishment of the Hong Kong Centre for Medical Products Regulation and the Greater Bay Area International Clinical Trial Institute, we will further improve the mechanisms for new drug R&D and approval, attracting global top-notch innovative enterprises and R&D organisations to set up operations in Hong Kong.

"These measures will not only accelerate patient access to advanced treatments but also solidify Hong Kong's position as an international health and medical innovation hub."

Prof Lo encouraged overseas pharmaceutical companies to make good use of the "1+" mechanism for the approval of new drugs, and "primary evaluation" for new drug registration, which will be rolled out in phases starting next year, to introduce newly developed drugs into Hong Kong.

He also welcomed overseas pharmaceutical companies to conduct clinical trials in Hong Kong, fully leveraging the city’s multiple unique advantages to facilitate the translation and clinical application of advanced biomedical technologies.

The health chief also visited the National Cancer Centre Singapore this morning.

Prof Lo noted that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government earlier rolled out the Cervical Screening Programme, the Colorectal Cancer Screening Programme and the Breast Cancer Screening Pilot Programme (BCSPP).

"The Government is formulating risk-based screening programmes for prevalent cancers on a gradual basis, including the BCSPP Phase II that has been rolled out and the hepatitis B screening programme to be launched by the Primary Healthcare Commission to reduce the risk of complications, such as liver cancer, of people infected with hepatitis B virus.

"The Government is also exploring the feasibility of using artificial intelligence to assist lung cancer screening to further enhance cancer prevention."

In the afternoon, Prof Lo went to the National Healthcare Group Sembawang Polyclinic for an in-depth exchange with its senior personnel on primary healthcare services in Hong Kong and Singapore.

He pointed out that Hong Kong is actively taking forward a major reform of its primary healthcare system to address the challenges posed by an ageing population and the increasing prevalence of chronic diseases.

"We are promoting the 'Family Doctor for All' concept, strengthening the District Health Centre network across Hong Kong, and implementing the Chronic Disease Co-Care Pilot Scheme that subsidises eligible citizens to undergo screening for diabetes mellitus, hypertension and blood lipid and follow-up treatment, to achieve the objectives of 'early prevention, early identification and early treatment'.

"I look forward to jointly exploring best practices in primary healthcare with the health authorities of Singapore, with a view to promoting sustainable healthcare development in the Asia-Pacific region."

Prof Lo will return to Hong Kong this evening.