AstraZeneca, a global biopharmaceutical company, is joining forces with the government, industry, academia, research institutes, medical institutions and investment partners at the ongoing fifth China International Import Expo (CIIE), as part of its efforts to enhance healthcare accessibility and to address the unmet treatment needs of Chinese patients. The company will continue to expand in nine therapy areas with the aim of fostering a more resilient healthcare system and contributing to the realization of the 'Healthy China 2030' initiative.

"CIIE's open platform enables AstraZeneca and our partners from other industries to explore ways of enhancing the accessibility of high-quality innovative medicines, access to high-quality primary-market healthcare, diagnosis and treatment integration, holistic management solutions, and personnel cultivation in the healthcare industry. The platform enables us to better focus on patient-centric, as well as better apply new ideas and digital tools to try to find the best treatment and holistic treatment solutions for them, and contribute to the fulfillment of the 'Healthy China 2030' initiative," said Leon Wang, executive vice president, international and China president at AstraZeneca.

Driving extensive access to high-quality innovative drugs for patients

While driving the development of holistic disease treatment management and contributing to the construction of healthcare institutions, AstraZeneca is fulfilling its mission as a multinational pharmaceutical company by accelerating universal access to high-quality medicines through the CIIE platform.

AstraZeneca has made substantial progress with the Qingdao municipal government in co-building a rare disease-themed Qingdao regional headquarters and an innovation ecosystem. The two parties will pursue closer cooperation to introduce innovative medicines and diagnostic services for rare diseases. AstraZeneca will also push for closer cooperation with industry partners, such as the China Primary Health Care Foundation and CanSino Biologics, in the field of rare disease to bring hope to patients.

Turning to payment innovation, AstraZeneca is advocating for innovative collaboration on health insurance to ensure that innovative medicines are truly accessible to patients.

Promoting high-quality healthcare resources for primary-market

AstraZeneca is expanding its multilateral cooperation across the primary market with the aim of ensuring that "serious diseases can be cured in counties and minor diseases can be treated in villages". AstraZeneca is working through the CIIE with partners to improve disease prevention and treatment and health management capabilities at the primary level.

AstraZeneca has reached a strategic cooperation agreement with the Health Bureau of Anning, Yunnan Province, to jointly explore the establishment of a medical community chronic disease management center in Anning. The company has also entered a closed-knit strategic cooperation agreement with the Health Bureau of Shouguang, Weifang, Shandong Province, to promote the standardized diagnosis and treatment capabilities of doctors in primary-market health centers and affiliated village clinics, raising awareness, and improving disease prevention and treatment for patients across the region.

In recent years, the Chinese government has issued policies to promote the sustainable and standard expansion of private practice, with non-public healthcare becoming an effective complement to the public healthcare system. At this year's CIIE, AstraZeneca has signed strategic cooperation agreements with leading Chinese medical groups. AstraZeneca will also work with partners to integrate their high-quality resources, empower each other, and benefit patients.

Nurturing high-caliber healthcare talents

Guided by the strategy of building a strong talent base for China, improving the quality of independent training of personnel and nurturing top-notch innovative professionals have become priorities for the sustained development of the healthcare sector. At this year's CIIE, AstraZeneca and the Shanghai Yangtze River Delta Business Innovation Technology Foundation signed a strategic cooperation agreement. Based on this partnership, AstraZeneca will support the development of the Foundation, work with it to identify and cultivate technology entrepreneurs, empower personnel, management, capital and industry, integrate technology and business models, connect domestic and international high-quality resources, and promote the screening and incubation of outstanding innovation projects and professionals in the field of life and health. The aim is to advance the development of the medical innovation industry in the Yangtze River Delta and contribute to the building of a sci-tech ecosystem for the sustainable development of the region.

"This is the fifth consecutive year that AstraZeneca has participated in CIIE — we have deeply felt the CIIE's strong spillover effects and its great influence in driving global innovation and cooperation, allowing us to better empower the building of an innovation landscape and the high-quality development of the industry. Going forward, AstraZeneca will keep working together with its partners across other industries at home and abroad, to upgrade and transform the industry, and contribute to the early realization of the 'Healthy China 2030 goals'," said Leon Wang.