The electronic health records (EHRs) of Hong Kong patients can now be accessed by the University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital (HKU-SZH) after a special support scheme authorized by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region was introduced last November.

This marked the first time that Hong Kong residents’ EHRs are accessible by a medical institution on the Chinese mainland.

Anne Lee, deputy hospital chief executive of HKU-SZH in charge of clinical services, stressed that the move would be a “milestone” in the medical cooperation between Shenzhen and Hong Kong.

“This step is very critical and will lay an important foundation for the medical exchanges and integration between the two places in the future,” said Lee, adding that the integration of medical services between Shenzhen and Hong Kong is on the fast track.

Under the special support scheme, HKU-SZH would arrange follow-up medical consultations for Hong Kong patients with chronic diseases residing in Guangdong Province from Nov. 10, 2020 to July 31, 2021.

According to Lee, as of Sunday, the hospital had provided medical services for more than 7,000 Hong Kong patients who have joined the well-received support scheme.

Lee also disclosed that patients in Shenzhen will very soon be able to have access to imported new drugs, new equipment and new technologies like patients in Hong Kong and Macao.

As the first designated medical institution in Shenzhen that pilots the introduction of international new drugs, HKU-SZH is actively cooperating with the drug administration departments of Guangdong Province and Shenzhen to push forward the clinical application of drugs and devices listed in Hong Kong, according to Lee.

“The first batch of more than 10 international new drugs will soon be launched in Shenzhen, covering cancer, rare diseases and respiratory diseases. At present, the approval process is nearing the end,” said Lee.

According to the Shenzhen Municipal Health Commission, Shenzhen has been speeding up medical legislation to reduce restrictions on the access to medical technologies, cross-border drugs and medical equipment.