The Guangdong-Macao Traditional Chinese Medicine Science and Technology Industrial Park, established in Hengqin in 2011, is a model of cooperation between the Chinese mainland and Macao. (PHOTO: VCG)

By CHEN Chunyou

Biomedicine and comprehensive healthcare development has received the green light in Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin, which was established in 2021.

Special measures have been allocated to support Macao's traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) branded industry, and the comprehensive healthcare industry featuring TCM R&D and manufacturing in Hengqing, aiming to inject vitality into Macao's economy by transforming it into a world-class hub for comprehensive healthcare.

To support the development of industry-university-research demonstration bases of Macao universities, the maximum annual subsidy for each base will be five million RMB. For the biomedical and comprehensive health projects, funded by the Macao government, an extra subsidy of up to eight million RMB will be granted.

Previously, the Law on Chinese Medicine Activities and Chinese Patent Medicine Registration took effect in Macao. In response, the measures encourage the developers in Hengqin to register Chinese patent medicine products in Macao.

In addition, the measures encourage the introduction of imported new drugs, and seek to strengthen the quality of standardization management, so as to further improve the internationalization level of the region.

Measures also give priority to R&D of TCM. Targeted support is given to various categories, including innovative TCM drugs, improved new drugs, and time-honoured classic prescriptions. A subsidy of 50 percent of the actual R&D costs would be made.

In addition, if an institute makes a breakthrough in innovative TCM medicines, up to 150 million RMB is rewarded annually, according to the measures.