United States and China Launch Public-Private Partnership on Healthcare
United States and China Launch Public-Private Partnership on Healthcare
Increasing collaboration in the healthcare sector
Washington, D.C. — Today, on the occasion of the State Visit of President Hu Jintao to the United States, the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA), the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) joined with China’s Ministries of Health (MoH) and Commerce (MOFCOM) to announce their support for the establishment a new public-private partnership in the healthcare sector.
Initially, twelve U.S. companies and six supporting organizations will participate in this partnership, alongside the supporting U.S. and Chinese Government agencies. The partnership will be organized around U.S. healthcare industry strengths and government capabilities in order to foster long-term cooperation with China in the areas of research, training, regulation and the adoption of an environment that will increase accessibility to healthcare services in China. Participating U.S. companies initially include 3M, Abbott, Chindex, Cisco, General Electric, IBM, Intel, Johnson & Johnson, Medtronic, Microsoft, Motorola, and Pfizer. Supporting organizations include AdvaMed, the Alliance for Healthcare Competitiveness, the American Chamber of Commerce in China, the American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai, PhRMA and the U.S.-China Business Council.
“The economic and social development of any nation depends on the health and productivity of its people,” said HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. “This partnership builds on a strong foundation of bilateral cooperation in this critical sector of our economies.”
USTDA Director Leocadia Zak stated, “This public-private partnership provides China an important private sector resource to draw from to help with key development issues, while also identifying for U.S. companies projects that have been designated priority development projects by China.”
Through programs supported by the initiative, Chinese participants will gain greater access to U.S. private sector expertise and ingenuity and better awareness of new technologies and results-oriented regulatory processes. Initially, these goals will be advanced through a USTDA-funded Healthcare Professional Personnel Exchange Program that will include a series of visits by Chinese healthcare officials to the United States to share best practices and witness new and innovative technologies that will be important to long-term healthcare delivery.
“The partnership will draw its strength from U.S. companies strategically working together to help China achieve its development goals that will open new export markets for U.S. goods and services,” noted Commerce Secretary Gary Locke.
Over time, the partnership will enhance cooperation in areas such as rural healthcare, emergency response, personnel training, medical information technology, and management systems; while also exploring ways to support other fields such as integrative and traditional Chinese medicine. These programs will enhance both sides’ knowledge of best practices, management, technological developments, and other healthcare-related topics.
The U.S. Trade and Development Agency helps companies create U.S. jobs through the export of U.S. goods and services for priority development projects in emerging economies. USTDA links U.S. businesses to export opportunities by funding project planning activities, pilot projects, and reverse trade missions while creating sustainable infrastructure and economic growth in partner countries.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is the United States government’s principal agency for protecting the health of all Americans and providing essential human services, especially for those who are least able to help themselves.
The U.S. Department of Commerce has a broad mandate to advance economic growth and jobs and opportunities for the American people. It has cross-cutting responsibilities in the areas of trade, technology, entrepreneurship, economic development, environmental stewardship and statistical research and analysis. The Department also leads the President’s National Export Initiative, which aims to double U.S. exports by 2015 in support of several million American jobs.
Joint Statement on U.S.-China Healthcare Cooperation
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the U.S. Trade and Development Agency (USTDA), and the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC), and the Ministry of Health (MOH) of the People’s Republic China and the Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China (MOFCOM), herein referred to as “The Agencies”, issue the following Joint Statement on the occasion of the Summit between the President of the United States, Barack Obama, and the President of the People’s Republic of China, Hu Jintao.
Recognizing the positive efforts from multiple agencies and organizations involved in furthering bilateral healthcare cooperation to promote health sector development in both countries;
Recognizing that the United States and China have conducted practical and effective cooperation in the fields of health policy, infectious disease prevention, biomedical research and personnel training;
Recognizing the importance of health to the U.S. – China relationship and to both countries’ economic and social development and human welfare;
Recognizing the necessity of expanding health cooperation between the United States and China to promote improvement of the provision of health care in both countries; and
Recognizing the important contributions of both the public and the private sector to advancing the quality and management of healthcare.
The Agencies herein have reached the following understanding:
The United States and China seek further cooperation consistent with both countries’ laws and regulations to strengthen exchanges in the areas of health policy and the improvement of the provision of effective and economical health care;
The United States and China intend to bring in strengths from different areas, including resources and specialized techniques from the private sector, to promote both countries’ healthcare cooperation;
Both governments intend to support the establishment of a U.S.-China public-private partnership on healthcare (PPPH)composed of companies and organizations to support jointly agreed upon activities including a Healthcare Professional Personnel Exchange Program with potential funding from USTDA, studies/consultancies, training, pilot projects and related project development as identified in consultation with all stakeholders.
Under this new PPPH, the U.S. and China intend to continue strengthening cooperation in fields such as rural healthcare, emergency response, personnel training, medical information technology, and management systems; and explore ways to support other fields such as integrative and traditional Chinese medicine. This should enhance both sides’ knowledge of best practices, management, technological developments, and other healthcare-related topics.
The relevant agencies from both the U.S. and China intend to provide policy guidance and technical assistance to support cooperation on health, and intend to have cordial consultations on specific mechanisms and projects.
* The above story is reprinted from materials provided by USA Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
** More information at USA Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
