Group photo of UM representatives and the WHO delegation
A delegation from the World Health Organization (WHO) visited the University of Macau (UM) today (18 August). During its stay at UM, the delegation visited the Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences (ICMS) and the State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine (QRCM Lab). WHO experts were impressed with UM’s research facilities, the internationalised research team, and the clear plans for translational research and product development. The delegation was warmly received by UM Rector Wei Zhao, Vice Rector (Research) Rui Martins, ICMS Director and QRCM Lab Director Wang Yitao, and other UM representatives. The delegation visited four research centres at UM, namely Centre for Quality Evaluation, Centre for Pharmaceutical Engineering, Centre for Drug Targets and Screening, and Centre for Pharmacology and Safety. Prof Wang Yitao, Dr Wang Chunming, Prof Richard Ye, and Prof Duncan Leung shared the ICMS’s plans for future development, noting that the QRCM Lab is China’s only state key laboratory in the field of traditional medicine. The delegation was particularly impressed by the ICMS’s high productivity and distinctive characteristics in both fundamental and translational research, and encouraged UM researchers to strengthen collaboration with international organisations in the field of complementary medicine, in order to establish a Collaborating Centre for Traditional Medicine in Macao, as is stated in the WHO Traditional Medicine Strategy 2014-2023. Earlier this morning the delegation attended the opening ceremony for an international forum on traditional medicine, which was co-organised by the WHO and the State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, as well as an inauguration ceremony for the Collaborating Centre for Traditional Medicine. Members of the delegation included Dr Fouad Mohadji, vice president of the Union of Comoros; H E Ph Chou Yin Sim, secretary of state of the Ministry of Health, Cambodia; Hon Jone Usamate, minister of health and medical services, Fiji; Dr Bence Rètvàri, deputy minister of human capacities, Hungary; Dr Amangeldy Murzaliev, deputy minister of health, Kyrgyz Republic; Dr Ganchimeg Gombosuren, state secretary of the Ministry of Health and Sports, Mongolia; H E Dr Win Myint, deputy minister of health, Myanmar; Dr Edward Kelley, director of the Department of Service Delivery and Safety, WHO; and Cheang Seng Ip, deputy director of the Health Bureau of the Macao SAR.
