More than 700 patients have benefited from the “Hong Kong and Macao Medicine and Equipment Connect” policy at the University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital (HKU-SZH), according to the hospital, which was designated as the first hospital in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) to pilot the policy last year.

In its latest move, the hospital has introduced absorbable antibacterial envelope — a new medical instrument for cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) — through the policy, and recently completed the first implantation case on the mainland, the hospital said yesterday.

An image of a cardiac implantable electronic device.

The absorbable surgical mesh envelope, which contains two antibiotics, can effectively reduce the risk of infection and complications in patients with cardiovascular diseases when electronic devices such as implantable cardioverter defibrillators and pacemakers are implanted into the body.

A computer-generated image of how a CIED is used clinically.

The envelope will slowly release antibiotics within seven days and be completely absorbed by the human body within nine weeks, according to the hospital.

Two patients from Hong Kong, one in his 50s and the other in his 70s, have become the beneficiaries since the introduction of the envelope to the hospital.

“The two patients both faced high infection risks of implantable devices, and the surgeries were very successful,” said Yiu Kai-hang, a cardiologist with HKU-SZH. “The clinical use of the envelope was the first in the GBA as well as on the Chinese mainland.”

According to Yiu, a global study of over 7,000 patients who have used the absorbable antibacterial envelope has found that the envelope can reduce the incidence of major infections of CIEDs by 40% and pocket infections by 61%.

As of yesterday, the two patients had been discharged from the hospital, and a third patient in need of the envelope had started surgical treatment.

HKU-SZH had introduced 13 types of imported drugs that are urgently needed for clinical use and nine types of imported medical devices as of May 30.

In another development, the institutional reform and community-level division of Shenzhen Municipal Health Commission was among the 19 government agencies or units in Shenzhen that were commended for their contributions to the city in piloting comprehensive reforms.

The commission was recognized for such practices as improving cross-border medical services, relaxing the access of international new drugs, and promoting the agglomeration and development of Hong Kong and Macao medical institutions in Shenzhen.

Official data showed Shenzhen currently has 11 Hong Kong-funded or Shenzhen-Hong Kong medical institutions. Six Hong Kong-funded medical institutions were approved to be established in the city last year.

Written by Zhang Yu

Source: Shenzhen Daily