The Hong Kong government has submitted a proposal to the Legislative Council to establish four permanent non-civil service positions, to lead the newly formed Centre for Medical Products Regulation. This center will be responsible for reviewing and approving drug and medical device applications under the first-tier approval process.
During a subcommittee meeting of the Legislative Council on Feb. 12, lawmakers expressed concerns regarding the retention of director-level talent trained by the center and how to ensure long-term talent retention in Hong Kong.
Health Secretary Lo Chung-mau explained that the center's personnel will be recruited both externally and internally, with measures in place to ensure they serve a designated period within the organization. He highlighted that the Centre for Medical Products Regulation is a relatively new entity that requires external expertise for the process. Lo emphasized the need to offer competitive salaries to attract such talent, as professionals in this field command substantial compensation overseas.
Additionally, Lo noted that there is a strong possibility for the center to evolve into an independent third-party organization in the future, rather than remaining under government oversight, which would necessitate salary adjustments in line with global standards.
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