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　　From June 8 to June 10, 2023, the Shenzhen International High-Performance Medical Device Exhibition was held with great success. ThinkMed Medical participated in several thematic seminars and forums at the exhibition, joining industry peers to discuss trends in the AI-driven healthcare sector and sharing its own innovative product applications as well as achievements in international expansion.

　　The 2023 Shenzhen International High-Performance Medical Device Exhibition is guided by the Shenzhen Municipal People’s Government and organized by the China Association for Medical Device Industry, the National Center for Innovation in High-Performance Medical Devices, and the Shenzhen Medical Device Industry Association.

　　This is a major industry event that encompasses the entire ecosystem of medical devices—from production and academia to research, clinical practice, financing, government policy, and regulatory oversight. The event brought together 343 exhibitors specializing in high-performance medical devices, over 500 scientific research achievements from more than 100 renowned hospitals nationwide, representatives from over 20 universities and research institutes, and more than 1,300 clinicians and hospital equipment managers. Under the theme “Gathering Cutting-Edge Innovations, Building a Hub for Intelligent Manufacturing,” the event explored cutting-edge topics, focused on hot issues in the medical device sector, and jointly sought out cooperation opportunities. Over the three-day exhibition, it attracted more than 25,000 professional visitors for exchanges and discussions, drew attention and coverage from over 120 central, provincial, and municipal media outlets as well as specialized publications, and achieved a total online exposure of 180 million views.

01 —— Seminar on Access Policies for AI Applications in Healthcare in the Digital Economy Era

　　On the morning of June 10, the “Seminar on Access Policies for Medical AI Applications in the Digital Economy Era,” hosted by the China Association for Medical Device Industry and exclusively supported by ThinkMed, was successfully held in Shenzhen.

　　The conference invited leading experts from government departments, research institutions, and medical organizations, including the Medical Administration Department of the National Health Commission, the Tangshan Municipal Medical Insurance Bureau, the Research Center for Health Development of the National Health Commission, the DRG Expert Guidance Group of the National Healthcare Security Administration, the Pharmaceutical and Medical Center of the Beijing Municipal Science and Technology Commission, the Shenzhen National High-Tech Industry Innovation Center, the School of Computer Science at Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications, the Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Jiangsu Provincial People’s Hospital, Liaocheng Second Hospital in Shandong, Zhejiang Provincial People’s Hospital, and the Shenzhen Hospital of the University of Hong Kong.

　　During the conference, leaders from the Medical Administration Department of the National Health Commission provided policy interpretations on the management of restricted medical technologies under the jurisdiction of the National Health Commission. The DRG Expert Guidance Group of the National Healthcare Security Administration introduced Beijing’s innovative DRG-based healthcare insurance access policy, which excludes certain advanced technologies. Professor Zhu Quan from Jiangsu Provincial People’s Hospital gave an in-depth presentation on how artificial intelligence is empowering “three-dimensional visualization and reconstruction of complex organs.” Director Xie Yaocheng from the Second Hospital of Liaocheng, Shandong, shared innovative applications of AI-assisted diagnostic technologies in health management, as well as preliminary explorations into health economics. More than 20 experts attending the conference engaged in a thorough exchange, focusing on policy management mechanisms and access issues related to innovative AI technologies.

　　In his speech, Zhao Zilin, Chairman of the 6th Council of the China Medical Equipment Association, former Director-General of the Planning and Finance Department of the Ministry of Health, and Chairperson of the Artificial Intelligence and Medical Robotics Working Committee of the China Medical Equipment Association, stated that in recent years, China has achieved remarkable progress in the integrated development of medical equipment and artificial intelligence. Currently, nearly a hundred AI products have been approved for Class III medical device registration. Moreover, governments at the national and various local levels have introduced a series of supportive policies. However, AI-powered medical devices are still relatively new in the healthcare sector and face significant challenges in market access as well as the need to establish policy and regulatory mechanisms that are tailored to these emerging technologies. We must confront these challenges head-on, leverage the strength of the industry, and work together to promote the sustainable development of our sector!

　　Ms. Xu Weiying, CEO of Tuixiang Medical, delivered a speech stating that China’s AI-powered healthcare technology is leading the world. Our AI healthcare companies, medical institutions, and regulatory bodies are all at the forefront in the application of artificial intelligence. This represents an excellent opportunity for the entire industry, and we hope to leverage AI technology to address the challenges of insufficient high-quality medical resources and their uneven distribution.

　　As a leading enterprise in the industry, ThinkMed not only aims to successfully bring its technology overseas but also looks forward to collaborating with experts from various fields to discuss the opportunities and challenges faced by China’s medical AI during its commercialization and implementation. We are committed to exploring ways to improve and optimize China’s policy environment for medical AI, and together, we will drive the development and advancement of the entire industry.

Policy Guide

　　In recent years, as high-performance AI-powered medical devices have gradually been introduced into clinical settings and widely adopted, governments at the national and various local levels have successively issued supporting policies to encourage, support, and regulate the clinical application of such AI medical devices.

　　In April 2022, the Medical Administration Bureau of the National Health Commission released the “National Catalog of Restricted Technologies and Clinical Application Management Specifications (2022 Edition).” As a result, AI-assisted diagnostic technology was removed from the catalog of restricted technologies. Following its removal from the restrictions, AI-assisted diagnostic technology will no longer be managed as a restricted technology and can now be used at the discretion of individual hospitals.

　　In February 2023, the General Office of the CPC Central Committee and the General Office of the State Council issued the "Opinions on Further Improving the Medical and Health Service System," proposing to leverage the supporting role of information technology, develop "Internet + Healthcare," build industrial internet platforms tailored for the healthcare sector, and accelerate the application of technologies such as the Internet, blockchain, the Internet of Things, artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and big data in the medical and health field.

　　Subsequently, the “Opinions on Further Deepening Reform and Promoting the Healthy Development of Rural Medical and Health Systems” were released. The notice calls for accelerating the deployment and application of AI-assisted diagnosis in rural medical and health institutions.

　　As the integration of artificial intelligence technology with the healthcare sector continues to deepen, AI-powered healthcare has become widely embedded in various scenarios across the medical industry, serving as a key driver for enhancing the quality of medical services. Meanwhile, fueled by policy support, technological innovation, the collaboration between medicine and engineering, and the concerted efforts of stakeholders across industries, the bright future of AI-powered healthcare is gradually unfolding.

02—— China Medical Equipment Artificial Intelligence Innovation and Development Forum

　　At the China Medical Equipment Artificial Intelligence Innovation and Development Forum, Ms. Chen Bingshu, Vice President of ThinkMed, was invited to join industry peers in discussing AI-driven medical innovation experiences and the challenges encountered.

　　Chen Bingshu stated that we recognize the immense value of AI in healthcare and anticipate obtaining early market access for our lung nodule product within the industry. Our product pipeline is expanding from disease screening and diagnosis to disease intervention and treatment, as well as patient health management and medical research, providing end-to-end intelligent healthcare services. Currently, we are in the stage of exploring commercialization and are also facing new challenges and issues at this stage.

　　We are fully confident in AI-powered healthcare. Tuixiang will adhere to the philosophy of “starting from clinical practice and returning to clinical practice,” actively embrace new technological advancements, and continue to deepen our “horizontal and vertical” product strategy, leveraging AI to contribute to the realization of Healthy China.

03—— High-Performance Medical Equipment Export, Foreign Aid Procurement, and United Nations Procurement Exchange Meeting

　　At the Exchange Meeting on High-Performance Medical Equipment Exports, Foreign Aid Procurement, and UN Procurement, Ms. Diao Ke, Vice President of ThinkMed, was invited to share ThinkMed’s experience in going global.

　　Diao Ke mentioned that internationalization is an important strategic development for the company, and also highlighted the company’s selection for the UN GDF.

　　In 2021, InferRead DR Chest—the AI solution developed by Thinker Medical—was included in the United Nations Global Drug Facility (GDF) procurement list. This marked the first time a Chinese high-tech enterprise had been selected for this prestigious list, and InferRead DR Chest was also among the very first AI products globally to be admitted. In 2022, it was again selected and has continued to receive orders from the United Nations. To date, through procurement by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS), Thinker’s AI solutions have been successfully deployed in countries including Uzbekistan, Moldova, and South Africa, making significant contributions to improving local tuberculosis conditions and reducing mortality rates. These efforts are helping to bring about an early end to tuberculosis worldwide. Meanwhile, Thinker’s Digital Belt and Road initiative is steadily accelerating and gaining strong momentum.

　　Continuously securing United Nations procurement is of profound significance for Xiangyi Medical, indicating that its technological capabilities, product quality, services, and deployment capabilities have all stood the test of the international market. Even in fiercely competitive global markets, Xiangyi Medical can distinguish itself and earn high recognition from international customers.

　　As stated in the conference’s promotional video, major scientific and technological innovations are vital national assets—powerful tools that strengthen our nation. We carry the weight of life with wisdom and, underpinned by robust policies, drive rapid industry growth. By fostering innovation, we build the very backbone of our industry, enabling seamless integration of intelligence and opening up new horizons in the medical world—horizons we share with the global community. Pushing Forward with Determination, Tuixiang Medical remains steadfast in its mission to “use AI to improve health and well-being worldwide!”