The Opening Ceremony of “Exchange Programme for Chinese Medicine Pharmaceutical Professionals in Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area”, funded by Professional Services Advancement Support Scheme (PASS) of Hong Kong Special Administration Region, China (Project no.: PS182001), was successfully held on 13 July 2019. The exchange programme aimed to enhance the professional knowledge and skills of Chinese medicine pharmaceutical professionals, and to promote information exchange and thus the development of an exchange platform of Chinese medicine (CM) in Greater Bay Area (GBA). The exchange programme was organized by Technological and Higher Education Institute of Hong Kong (THEi), together with an organizing committee comprised of several representatives from CM pharmaceutical professional organizations in GBA.
 

Events in the exchange programme includes three 1-day seminars, a GBA study tour and 80-hour training courses, which will be held in GBA from 2019 to 2020. The “Pharmaceutical and Safe Use of Chinese Medicines in Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area” Seminar Series, as the first event of the exchange programme, were successfully conducted on 13 July, 27 July and 10 August at the Conference Hall, Hong Kong Productivity Building. The opening ceremony of the exchange programme was also held on the first day of the seminar (13 July, 2019).
 

Mr. Tommy LI, BBS, MH, JP, Deputy of the 13^th National People’s Congress of the People’s Republic of China, Ms. Grace KWOK, Head of Chinese Medicine Unit, Food and Health Bureau, Mr. Robert LAW, Chief Pharmacist (Chinese Medicine) of Department of Health, Dr. Andrew MA, Principal Consultant, HKPC, Prof. Wai-yee CHAN, Vice President of CUHK and Dr. Lawrence Wan-ching CHAN, Executive Vice President of THEi, were invited as officiating guests and delivered opening addresses to all the guests and participants.
 

Renowned scholars, experts and industry elites from GBA and local in CM safety and toxicology, pharmacy management, integrated Chinese-Western Medicine, CM hospital and research were invited to share their expertise and experience on the topic with the participants. More than 600 participants and guests, including CM pharmacists and pharmaceutical professionals from the HKSAR government, Hospital Authority, public organizations, industry and academia, attended the seminars. Participants gained insight from the speakers and had a valuable opportunity to interact with speakers during the seminars. The theme of the seminar each day were as follows:

• Chinese Medicine Policy, Management Stats and Development Process in GBA (13 July)
• Traditional Chinese Medicine Professional Technologies Exchange and Application of Ling-nan Herbs in GBA (27 July)
• New Trends in the Development of Traditional Chinese Medicine in GBA (10 August)

The seminars also covered various important issues related to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), including: safety and risk management of TCM, regulatory issues of TCM and CM pharmaceutical personnel, challenges faced by pharmaceutical services in CM hospital in the future, authentication of Ling-nan herbal medicine and commonly used TCM, quality evaluation and standardization of proprietary Chinese medicines (pCM), application of Ling-nan herbal medicine and new trends of development of pCM. During the third seminar, Professor Jin-sheng YANG, the director of Exchange center for Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao, National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, PRC (a supporting organization of the exchange programme) gave a discourse on the exchange and co-operation direction of CM Pharmaceuticals and personnel with the latest policy development.  By bringing experts from various fields together, the seminars served as a platform for participants to share their views and experiences, promote knowledge exchange between the different parties, strengthen cooperation between districts in GBA, and enhance the future of traditional Chinese medicine professional pharmacy services and explore potential cooperation opportunities.  Dr. Dawn AU, Programme Leader of Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Chinese Medicinal Pharmacy and the Chairperson of the organizing committee of the exchange programme, concluded the seminar by giving a speech on the development and prospects of professional enhancement for CM pharmacists and pharmaceutical professionals in Hong Kong.

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Ms. Grace KWOK, Head of Chinese Medicine Unit, Food and Health Bureau, delivered opening address

 

Dr. Lawrence Wan-ching CHAN, Executive Vice President of THEi, thanked the speakers, guests and participants for their support of the event.

 

Mr. Tommy LI, BBS, MH, JP, Deputy of the 13th National People’s Congress of the People’s Republic of China shared the traditional authentication of precious Chinese Medicines, and many samples were presented to the particiapants. Mr Li showed a rare and valuable giant Ox-bezoar.

 

Participants took the opportunity to take photos of precious herbs.

Speakers and participants shared their views and had sufficient interaction during Q & A session.

 

 

Prof. Simon Li responded to participant’s inquiry.

 

 

Dr Vivian WONG TAAM shared her view on development of pharmaceutical services of Chinese Medicine in Hong Kong.

 

 

Dr Le Zhi-yong (GM of Kangmei (Beijing) Pharmaceutical Research Institute Co) shared the application of big data intelligence in the development of CM pharmaceutical services.

 

Prof. Yang gave a speech on the exchange and co-operation direction of CM Pharmaceuticals and personnel with the latest policy development.

 

 

Prof. Yang , Mr. Timothy Yung (Senior Pharmacist of  HACPO) and Dr. Dawn Au, with representatives from CPO & Chinese Medicine Centres for Training and Research (CMCTRs).

 

Dr. Dawn AU, Programme Leader of BSc. (Hons) in Chinese Medicinal Pharmacy and the Chairperson of the organizing committee of the exchange programme, concluded the seminar by giving a speech of on the development and prospects of professional enhancement for CM pharmacists and pharmaceutical professionals in Hong Kong.