TTGassociations Publications January 2019 | Page 12

Sabrina Chan
Achieving loftier goals
Sabrina Chan, senior executive director of Hong Kong Association of the
Pharmaceutical Industry, talks to Prudence Lui about her association’s wide-
ranging work to elevate pharmaceutical professionalism and Hong Kong’s
competitiveness in the global arena
Could you give us a quick introduction
to the role the Hong Kong Associa-
tion of the Pharmaceutical Industry
(HKAPI) plays in Hong Kong’s public
healthcare system?
Founded in 1968, HKAPI is one of the
earliest associations in the world formed
by R&D-based pharmaceutical compa-
nies. We work closely with different
government bureaux, professional asso-
ciations, academics and patient groups,
consistently providing expert views
across the entire spectrum of healthcare
matters, including healthcare system re-
form, research and development as well
as patient empowerment.
Though that mission has evolved over
the years, it still follows the industry’s
fundamental pharmaceutical philosophy
that medicine is for all people.
HKAPI also provides constructive
advice on the healthcare system, sup-
porting the implementation of regulatory
requirements while maintaining supplies
of critical drugs and vaccines to safe-
guard the public.
For instance, we reviewed the Drug
Office’s e-submission system before its
official launch two years ago. HKAPI
implemented a pilot test on it and then
gave comments to bridge (user) gap
and to minimise bugs. We also offered
training for members.
What are the various functions of
HKAPI?
I lead the executive office and the
day-to-day running of the associa-
tions’ interest in accordance with
the strategic plans and budget. I
also work with an eight-member
Board of Directors, who are our
sponsors and elected by full-time
members once every two years in
AGMs.
There are several task forces
set up for strategic initiatives
and system betterment, name-
ly Preventive and Primary
Healthcare; Patients,
Enlistment & Risk-
sharing; Open Access; R&D/Eco-system;
Regulatory Affairs; Ethics and Compliance
as well as Macau.
I work with staff, sponsors and task-
forces to develop policies and planning for
the implementation of strategic directions,
and support the effective implementation
of strategic plans.
Together, we review and evaluate pre-
sent and future opportunities, threats and
risks in the external environment as well
as current and future strengths, weakness
and risks relating to the industry.
How big is the association today?
There are 39 full members, 28 associate
members and two members under Aca-
demics and NGOs – the Chinese Univer-
sity of Hong Kong and Hong Kong Cancer
Fund.
Multinational companies engaged in
the research and/or development of phar-
maceuticals remain our core members,
including the world’s top 20 companies.
Our member companies provide over 70
per cent of the prescription medicines in
Hong Kong. Annual subscription fee for
Has this membership changed?
When I first (joined HKAPI in 2004), there
were 53 members. That number slipped
over time due to mergers and acquisition
(M&A) among member companies. This
is a dynamic phenomenon but it doesn’t
impact our membership revenue since
annual subscription fee is based on mem-
bers’ sales turnover.
The pharmaceutical industry faces high
risks because of the costly and lengthy
R&D process for new drugs, which comes
with a high chance of failure. According
to a 2016 study by the Pharmaceutical
Research and Manufacturers of America,
the discovery of a new drug through to
getting the US Food and Drug Administra-
tion’s (FDA) approval takes 10 to 15 years
and costs US$2.6 billion. Less than 12 per
cent of these candidate medicines make it
into a Phase One clinical trial approved by
the FDA.
On the other hand, our associate