The 2023 Wuzhen Health Conference and the Second China Over The Counter (OTC) Conference kicked off in Wuzhen town of Jiaxing city, eastern China's Zhejiang province, on Monday. 

The 2023 Wuzhen Health Conference and the Second China Over The Counter Conference kicks off in Wuzhen, Zhejiang province, on April 10, 2023. [Photo/China.org.cn]

The event gathered over 8,000 guests including representatives of academia and entrepreneurs, aiming to build a platform for exchange and cooperation in the health industry.

Shao Mingli, former vice minister of health and former director general of the State Food and Drug Administration (now the National Medical Products Administration), speaks at a health conference in Wuzhen, Zhejiang province, on April 10, 2023. [Photo/China.org.cn]

During the opening ceremony, Shao Mingli, former vice minister of health and former director general of the State Food and Drug Administration (now the National Medical Products Administration), delivered a speech. 

The formulation and implementation of the drug administration law has deepened the institutional reform of drug evaluation, optimized policy environment, and enabled the public to have access to new and good medicines in a timely manner, Shao said. 

Ni Huping, vice mayor of Jiaxing Municipal People's Government, speaks at a health conference in Wuzhen, Zhejiang province, on April 10, 2023. [Photo/China.org.cn]

As the host city of this conference, Jiaxing has introduced a batch of 10-billion-yuan projects, cultivated a number of leading enterprises in the medical industry, and built a set of high-end innovation platforms for biomedicine, generating sound momentum for the industrial growth, said Ni Huping, vice mayor of Jiaxing.

Zhang Boli, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, delivered a speech via video link. Zhang called for efforts to pull wisdom for the high-quality development of OTC and the massive health industry in China. 

Wu Yifang, chairman of Fosun Pharma, speaks at a health conference in Wuzhen, Zhejiang province, on April 10, 2023. [Photo/China.org.cn]

Wu Yifang, chairman of Fosun Pharma, called for more attention from the government and society to the role of OTC in the healthcare system. He also encouraged the domestic OTC industry to enhance competitiveness and help more local brands to go global. 

Ruan Hongxian, president of Wuzhen Health Conference and chairman of YXT Health, speaks at a health conference in Wuzhen, Zhejiang province, on April 10, 2023. [Photo/China.org.cn]

As the development of the Healthy China initiative has entered a new phase, pharmaceutical enterprises should center on the cause of health, accelerate the establishment of a modern health industry system, and deliver more high-quality medical products and services to the public, said Ruan Hongxian, president of Wuzhen Health Conference and chairman of YXT Health.

Gao Yi, chairman of Yifeng Pharmacy, speaks at a health conference in Wuzhen, Zhejiang province, on April 10, 2023. [Photo/China.org.cn]

Gao Yi, chairman of drugstore chain Yifeng Pharmacy, delivered a speech at the event. Gao said chain drugstores work as an important pillar to provide all-round and full-cycle health services to the public and need the attention and support from all walks of life.

During Monday's opening ceremony, five representatives talked about the new trends in medical industry. Activities focusing on chronic diseases, traditional Chinese medicine, and charity, as well as an award ceremony were also held.