The State Council has unveiled a comprehensive “Work Plan” aimed at enhancing Beijing’s service industry capabilities, with a particular focus on healthcare and medical services. Titled “Work Plan Supporting the Construction of Comprehensive Demonstration Zones to Deepen National Service Industry Openness in Beijing,” the document outlines several key proposals that could significantly impact the medical and healthcare sector.
Key Initiatives Include:
- Optimizing Cross-Border Medical Practices: The plan supports qualified foreign and Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan-based physicians in establishing clinics in Beijing. It also promotes streamlined management of human genetic resources for enterprises across the region and ensures that innovative pharmaceutical products registered in Beijing are accessible in designated medical institutions based on clinical needs. A green channel for urgently needed imported pharmaceutical equipment will also be established.
- Advancing Cell and Gene Therapy (CGT): The initiative encourages foreign pharmaceutical R&D experts to engage in stem cell and gene therapy, facilitating clinical trials and international collaboration in these fields. Eligible enterprises will be allowed to import CGT products and urgently needed drugs that have passed safety assessments.
- Establishing a Pilot Zone for Rare Disease Drugs: A new pilot zone for rare disease drugs will be created in the Beijing Tianzhu Comprehensive Bonded Zone, allowing imports of unregistered rare disease medications. Guidance for specific medical institutions on the use of these drugs will be provided.
- Facilitating Innovative Drug R&D: The plan promotes the use of real-world data in medical technology research and establishes a green channel for the examination of innovative drug patents. With China’s entry into the Pharmaceutical Inspection Co-operation Scheme (PIC/S), qualified enterprises will be encouraged to engage in high-quality international collaborations.
- Enhancing Oversight and Digital Upgrades: The framework aims to strengthen patent protections for genetic resources and establish a collaborative supervision system across multiple departments in biomedicine. It also seeks to create a comprehensive traceability system for drugs and medical devices, leveraging national medical insurance platforms for prescription management.
- Rehabilitative and Medical Care Development: The plan emphasizes the importance of rehabilitation assistive devices, promoting community rental schemes and encouraging foreign collaborations in this sector.
- International Development of Traditional Chinese Medicines (TCMs): The initiative aims to accelerate the risk assessment of Chinese medicinal materials and establish an international service platform for TCMs, facilitating access to global markets.- Flcube.com
