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The "Hong Kong-Macao Drug and Medical Device Connect" policy delivers another milestone, bringing significant benefits for peripheral vascular disease treatment. On June 16, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University Guangzhou Fosun Chancheng Hospital (Guangzhou Xinshi Hospital) successfully introduced the internationally innovative drug Iloprost Injection through this policy, administering the first dose to a 90-year-old diabetic patient at risk of amputation—becoming the first medical institution in mainland China to introduce and clinically administer this medication.

This achievement not only fills a gap in the clinical application of this drug in mainland China but also provides patients with complex vascular diseases access to limb-sparing treatment options synchronized with international standards.

(Launch ceremony for Iloprost Injection under the Hong Kong-Macao Drug Connect policy)

First Prescription in Mainland China: 90-Year-Old Diabetic Patient Gains New Hope for Limb Salvage

On the afternoon of June 16, the hospital successfully completed the first clinical injection of Iloprost Injection under the new Hong Kong-Macao Drug Connect policy. 90-year-old Madam Li (pseudonym) became the first beneficiary in mainland China.

Madam Li had suffered from diabetes for over a decade. Her advanced age combined with the long disease duration led to arteriosclerosis obliterans of the right lower extremity with gangrene (diabetic foot), putting her at risk of amputation. Unwilling to accept the devastating physical and psychological consequences of amputation for their loved one, the family sought out Director Hu Haitao of the hospital's Wound Repair and Vascular Surgery Department.

Statistics show that among diabetic patients over 50 in China, the incidence of diabetic foot reaches 8.1%. As one of the leading causes of disability and death, diabetic foot imposes a heavy burden on both society and families.

Director Hu Haitao noted that Madam Li had already undergone two previous surgeries, with conventional treatment options nearly exhausted—under the traditional pathway, amputation would have been the likely outcome. However, amputation in elderly patients presents complex challenges including wound healing difficulties, long-term pain management, prosthetic fitting, and functional rehabilitation, placing physical and psychological burdens far beyond ordinary endurance.

The introduction of Iloprost Injection through the Hong Kong-Macao Drug Connect policy opened an entirely new limb-sparing treatment pathway for Madam Li, offering this 90-year-old a renewed chance in what had seemed like an insurmountable situation.

(Madam Li receiving Iloprost Injection introduced through the Hong Kong-Macao Drug Connect policy)

Upon learning of the hospital's successful introduction of the drug, Madam Li's daughter, Ms. Chen, could barely contain her emotion. She had been following news about Iloprost for some time and had resigned herself to her mother facing amputation. "To have access to internationally advanced medications right at our doorstep is incredibly convenient. We hope everything goes smoothly!"

Internationally Advanced Targeted Drug: Diverse Options for Complex Vascular Diseases

Director Hu Haitao explained that Iloprost, as an internationally recognized prostacyclin analog, is a core targeted medication for cardiovascular and peripheral vascular disease treatment.

Its indications span multiple areas: it is indicated not only for patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), but also for severe peripheral arterial occlusive disease (PAOD) with amputation risk where surgery or angioplasty is not feasible; advanced thromboangiitis obliterans (Buerger's disease) with severe limb ischemia and no indication for revascularization; and severe disabling Raynaud's phenomenon unresponsive to other therapies.

Director Hu further noted that China has over 5 million patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension, and approximately 8.1 million patients with diabetic foot (as of 2023).

This vast patient population has an urgent need for innovative medications. Iloprost holds broad clinical application prospects in cardiovascular and peripheral vascular complex diseases. Its successful introduction will provide new options for many patients who previously lacked access to such treatments.

Vice President Song Shengsheng of the hospital revealed that since the introduction of Iloprost Injection, multiple patients have already come forward to inquire about and schedule use of the medication. "We will rigorously evaluate each patient's condition and conduct comprehensive assessments before prescribing the appropriate drug and device."

Simultaneously, the hospital is continuously expanding its range of imported medications through the Hong Kong-Macao Drug Connect policy, having submitted applications for novel drugs and devices covering allergic rhinitis, menopause-related moderate to severe hot flashes and night sweats, and complicated urinary tract infections, continuously enriching its clinical treatment capabilities.

Leveraging Policy Fast Track: Streamlining Drug and Device Access

In December last year, the hospital was successfully designated as a Hong Kong-Macao Drug Connect designated medical institution, officially joining the Greater Bay Area's policy fast track for drug and device connectivity. Using this as a catalyst, the hospital proactively aligned with international frontiers, submitting multiple import applications for clinically needed Hong Kong-Macao drugs and medical devices, fully working to bridge the "last mile" of innovative drug and device access to mainland China.

While accelerating the introduction of innovative drugs and devices, the hospital simultaneously established a comprehensive specialized management system. For Hong Kong-Macao Drug Connect drugs and medical devices, the hospital developed full-process management protocols and standardized operating procedures, conducting policy education and specialized training hospital-wide.

Vice President Song Shengsheng stated: "From medication training, procurement verification, storage, specialized inventory management, and registration, to patient communication, informed consent, post-administration observation, and data recording—every step is strictly monitored to ensure full-chain closed-loop management with complete traceability."

Rooted in the Greater Bay Area and bridging international pharmaceutical resources, the hospital will continue leveraging the Hong Kong-Macao Drug Connect policy to closely align with clinical needs, promoting the rational introduction and standardized application of more international innovative drugs and devices, enabling patients to access high-quality healthcare services synchronized with international standards right at their doorstep.