Upholding the idea of promoting technology-led development with a focus on a cooperative solution, the China-ASEAN Science and Technology Cooperation Center for Public Health is building up a hub of research and development, technological innovation, and capacity building in public health between China and the ASEAN countries.

Our team initiated with an in-depth investigation was initiated into the subject matter and research has been conducted on the general concept, norms, prospects, principles of innovation and accessibility of health products. As a follow-up step, focus group and nominal group techniques were employed to gather opinions and facilitate open dialogues with the Center’s academic committee and other experts. It is believed that  this approach was instrumental in synthesizing diverse critical points and reaching a consensus, thereby ensuring a comprehensive integration of various perspectives. Furthermore, when the Center held the Second Annual Forum on China-ASEAN Cooperation in Public Health on June 26–28, 2024, the theme of innovations in development cooperation for medical devices and technology was explored among more than 200 experts from government departments and academia from China, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, Brunei Darussalam, as well as WHO and other international organizations. The attendees shared views on key issues in promoting the R&D and accessibility of health products, which greatly promoted high-level exchanges regarding science and technology cooperation in public health. The participants at the Forum reached consensus on launching the China-ASEAN Beijing Declaration on Cooperation in Innovation of Health Products and Technologies, which calls on China and ASEAN countries to carry out the following five actions:

1.

Establish a more effective, open, and inclusive cooperation mechanism for health product innovation towards a China-ASEAN innovation ecosystem

We advocate for maximizing China and the ASEAN’s development potential and innovative vitality by linking enterprises, research institutions, and university research platforms. The objective is to establish a more effective, open, and inclusive cooperation mechanism for health product innovation to promote knowledge sharing, information exchange, collaborative research, and capacity building. Timely, continuous, accurate, and high-quality products, technology, and human resources will be provided through the mechanism for building a regional health product innovation ecosystem. Additionally, institutional and financial support will also be furnished through the mechanism for the entire R&D, production, and regulation chain.

2.

Enhance innovative R&D capabilities by targeting new technologies, methods and appropriate and affordable health products for key populations and addressing diseases prevalent in China and ASEAN

We advocate for promoting R&D work guided by translational and evidence-based medicine to ensure robust clinical practice and data support in terms of effectiveness and safety. We call for the utilization of new technologies and methods, such as telemedicine systems, artificial intelligence, and big data, to enhance R&D efficiency and production capacity. We reiterate the importance of tackling dual imperatives: addressing the domestic concerns of individual countries, and simultaneously confronting shared health challenges across the region by developing appropriate and affordable health products for key populations and diseases. We call for the evidence-based formulation of R&D plans, optimization of R&D priorities, and the provision of new concepts, models, and systematic solutions.

3.

Establish a China-ASEAN Collaboration Center for Health Product Innovation, coordinate regional development plans, and enhance equitable access to pharmaceutical products at regional level

We advocate for establishing a China-ASEAN Regional Center for Health Product Innovation based on the WHO's guiding framework. The Center will serve to ensure that the product development lifecycle, including R&D, production, distribution, and regulation, will comply with the WHO and related international norms and standards. We propose developing diversified market entry strategies and market cooperation plans, including sharing the latest research outcomes and best practices, along with relevant rules and standards, to enhance equitable access to pharmaceutical products in the region.

4.

Accelerate regulatory harmonization in the region by optimizing and improving regulatory modalities of China and ASEAN Countries

We advocate for optimizing and improving the regulatory modalities for health products in the region. We will actively promote the coordination of regional and national development strategies and systems, exploring inter-country regulatory reliance and convergence, and thus driving the vigorous development of regulatory harmonization. We aim to scientifically balance intellectual property protection with the promotion of innovation, leverage market-shaping strategies, enhance cooperative trust, and achieve the dual goals of promoting R&D and access to health products.

5.

Strengthen cross-sectoral cooperation to build resilient health system and achieve sustainable development of innovation cooperation

We advocate for integrating health into all policies through cross-sectoral cooperation. We advocate the establishment of coordination mechanisms between the health sector and related departments, such as regulation, financing, trade, and transportation to ensure the effective implementation of health product R&D and promotion of accessibility at both regional and national levels. We call for building resilient health systems, including establishing sustainable health financing strategies, enhancing the capacity of health workforce, and providing integrated healthcare services through primary health care. The resilient health system should be deeply integrated with the health product lifecycle to achieve sustainable development in innovation cooperation that promotes the R&D and accessibility of health products.

In light of this declaration, we pledge to join forces with our ASEAN partners to create opportunities for a stronger partnership. We will play a more active role in regional public health governance and development cooperation, continuously tackling the challenges in R&D and accessibility of health products, and addressing more complex public health system challenges. We will redouble our efforts to achieve the health-related sustainable development goals (Figures 1 & 2).

Actions

Goals

Key Action

Action #1

Cooperation Mechanism

Knowledge sharing

Information exchange

Collaborative research

Capacity building

Action #2

Innovation Capability

Evidence-based R&D plans formulation

R&D priorities optimization

New concepts, models, and systematic solutions adaptation

Action #3

Equitable Access

Market entry strategies

Market cooperation plans

Upholding WHO and related international norms

Action #4

Regulatory Harmonization

Regulatory reliance and convergence

Intellectual property protection

Innovation incentives

Action #5

Cross-sectoral Cooperation

Sustainable health financing strategies

Improved Health workforce capacity

Integrated health services through primary health care

Fig. 1

The second annual forum on China-ASEAN cooperation in public health on June 26-28, 2024 at Peking University

Fig. 2

The launch of the China-ASEAN Beijing Declaration on Cooperation in Innovation of Health Products and Technologies on June 26, 2024