A targeted therapy drug for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) was prescribed in Hainan province, according to an announcement made at a press conference held in Haikou on Oct 10.

Gavreto (Pralsetinib), a new medicine approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in early September, was prescribed at Boao Super Hospital in Hainan on Sept 29, marking its first prescription outside its country of approval.

To ensure that NSCLC patients in China can have access to this life-saving medicine, relevant departments of Hainan province teamed with Boao Lecheng International Medical Tourism Pilot Zone, Boao Super Hospital, and local drug purchasers to approve the use application of the medication for the first patient after passing efficient reviews and evaluations by various experts.

The Hainan Provincial Health Commission and the Hainan Provincial Food and Drug Administration accelerated their reviews, and it only took one and a half days to complete the approval and issuance procedures.

The efficient use of the new drug will facilitate the construction of Lecheng as a gateway for advanced foreign medicinal equipment to enter China. The zone will also serve as an international advanced medicinal equipment exhibition center and a training center for domestic medical staff to learn about international advanced medical equipment and technologies, according to Gu Gang, head of Boao Lecheng International Medical Tourism Pilot Zone.

This has a positive significance in forging the international image of a high-end medical tourism industrial park, Gu added.

"It shows Lecheng's system integration and innovation, and reflects the early gains of the Hainan Free Trade Port construction."

According to Gu, the zone has been implementing the reform of "minimalist approvals" for medical and healthcare reviews, focusing on opening up the entire chain of the declaration, introduction, exhibition, use, and supervision of licensed pharmaceutical equipment to realize the freedom of trade, investment, and cross-border payment of innovative pharmaceutical equipment, as well as promote free flow of cross-border medical and health production factors. The moves will ensure that the zone keeps up-to-date with cutting-edge medical technologies, equipment, and medicine from around the world.