Hengqin-Macao tie-up drives medical innovation

When Guangdong True Health Medical Technology Development, or TrueHealth, rang the opening bell at the Hong Kong Stock Exchange on June 30, it marked not only the debut of a medical robotics company but also another milestone in the deepening cooperation between Hengqin in Guangdong province and the Macao Special Administrative Region.

The company, which develops robotic systems for minimally invasive puncture and tumor ablation procedures, became Macao's first publicly listed biopharmaceutical company and the first company incubated in the Guangdong-Macao In-depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin to go public.

Established in 2021, the zone aims to diversify Macao's economy beyond gaming while deepening integration with neighboring Zhuhai in Guangdong.

In March 2024, Hengqin introduced a new customs management system that simplified the cross-border movement of people, vehicles and goods.

According to Cao Jinfeng, deputy director of the cooperation zone's executive committee, the zone now records an average of more than 260,000 cross-border movements a day. Nearly 70 percent of the roughly 12,000 vehicles crossing daily carry Macao license plates.

As of June 13 this year, more than 2 million vehicles had passed through Hengqin Port, up more than 42 percent from the same period last year, according to customs authorities.

"The movement of people, goods, capital and information between Hengqin and Macao has become more efficient," Cao said.

The improved connectivity has benefited both residents and businesses.

Zhang Haoren, founder of True-Health, grew up in Macao and previously worked for the SAR's Health Bureau before starting the company.

"A few years ago, we responded to the call to develop Macao's emerging industries. We chose Hengqin because it provides fertile ground for technological innovation," Zhang said.

The company's flagship microwave ablation robot, designed to treat lung nodules with sub-millimeter precision, has received China's highest-level registration for innovative medical devices.

In April, Hengqin Hospital, working with Macao's Conde de Sao Januario Hospital, treated two elderly Macao residents with complex lung cancer after they were referred across the border through a newly established joint specialist clinic.

Guided by the robotic system, surgeons successfully completed minimally invasive procedures on the 79-year-old and 87-year-old patients under local anesthesia.

Before the service became available in Hengqin, comparable procedures often required patients from Macao to travel to Hong Kong or even farther for treatment, Zhang said.

Regulatory procedures are underway for the robotic system to enter Macao's public hospital network later this year, Zhang added.

The closer integration has also created new opportunities for medical professionals.

Mio Weng-loi, a 28-year-old dermatologist from Macao who lives in Hengqin and commutes daily to work in Macao, now leaves home about 10 minutes earlier than before because of heavier morning traffic.

"More and more Macao residents have moved to Hengqin over the past two years, which means the area is developing and becoming more vibrant," he said.

Mio recently became a partner at a Macao-funded medical group in Hengqin and will begin doctoral studies at Sun Yat-sen University this fall.

"For my own development, cooperation between Hengqin and Macao gives me an international perspective while also providing access to rich clinical resources," Mio said.

By April, more than 190 medical professionals from Macao had registered to practice in Hengqin, covering specialties ranging from general practice and anesthesiology to dentistry and traditional Chinese medicine, said Feng Fangdan, director of the zone's civil affairs bureau.

"Cross-border patient referral systems and mutual recognition of medical imaging results have been established," Feng said.

The integration is also attracting companies in emerging industries.

Lei Zhen, founder of Zhuhai Nanometals Technology, said Hengqin's preferential policies and Macao's international connections have helped the company recruit global talent and expand into biomedical materials.

Over the past two years, the company has incubated a healthcare subsidiary, applying its advanced materials technologies to the medical device sector, Lei said.

"Hengqin has become a hub for scientific innovation. Combined with Macao's role as an international gateway, it creates favorable conditions for innovation and industrial development," he said.

zhaoyimeng@chinadaily.com.cn