Standards recently issued by the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine and the National Health Commission for national medical centres offering integrated Chinese and Western medicine outline the basic requirements for such centres. These include capabilities in areas such as medical services, teaching, scientific research, integration of Chinese and Western medicine in relation to emergencies, and hospital management.

The National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) issued guidelines for the establishment of “advantageous TCM specialties” on 11 December. With the establishment of about 10,000 such specialties by 2029, China will have a network of TCM specialties with comprehensive professional and geographical coverage. Efforts will be made to enhance the clinical efficacy of TCM and the capacity of service provision and clinical research. Innovations will also be made in the modes of service.

The National Drug Catalogue for Basic Medical Insurance, Work Related-Injury Insurance and Maternity Insurance (2024 edition), released by the National Healthcare Security Administration and the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security in an announcement issued on 28 November, will officially come into force on 1 January. The announcement of the catalogue also covered levels of drug supplies, the connection between commercial healthcare insurance and basic medical insurance, the management of ethnic medicine, preparations by medical institutions, and Chinese medicine tablets.

The Guangdong Provincial Medical Products Administration and Health Commission jointly released , on 2 December, the 2024 catalogue of Hong Kong and Macao-registered drugs and medical devices for urgent clinical use in the nine mainland cities of the Greater Bay Area (GBA).

The National Medical Products Administration recently released interim provisions on the administration of “domestic responsible persons” designated by foreign marketing authorisation holders (MAHs). The provisions, which will take effect on 1 July 2025 specify the qualifications that must be possessed by such persons and the requirements for foreign MAHs in reporting drug imports.

Foreign and domestic food and medical device facilities – including any Hong Kong or mainland Chinese facilities – that do not properly renew their registrations with the FDA can be locked out of the U.S. market. Renewals for both types of facilities are due by the end of this year.

The growing role played by advanced technology in ageing societies was prominently on display at the AGE-WELL conference in Edmonton.

Tackling the challenges and learning the lessons of ageing societies globally was high on the agenda at Canada’s AGE-WELL event.

Many attendees at Seoul’s HIMSS APAC expo had one eye on expanding into other Asian markets, with Hong Kong quite firmly in their sights.

Helping the elderly treat their long-term ailments at home was the aim of many of the high-tech exhibits at this year’s Houston Abilities Expo.