On Oct 17, 2019, the Launch Ceremony for 2019 National Safe Medication Month Activity and the 4th China Drug Safety Forum hosted by NMPA and jointly undertaken by China Pharmaceutical Association and People's Daily Online (People's Health Section) was held in Beijing. NMPA Commissioner Jiao Hong attended the ceremony and delivered a speech. 

With the CPC Central Committee and the State Council attaching great importance to safety medication for the people, China's drug administration laws and regulations have gradually developed and improved, providing effectively a solid guarantee for the sustainable development of China's pharmaceutical industry and the people's safe use of drugs. In 2019, China's drug administration has achieved new results and reached a new level. 

Significant progress has been made in the construction of the regulatory system: The Vaccine Administration Law and the newly revisedDrug Administration Law have been promulgated successively; the amendments to the Regulations for the Supervision and Administration of Medical Devices, and the Regulations for the Supervision and Administration of Cosmetics are also to be submitted to the State Council executive meeting for deliberation. 

The reform of the review & approval system continued to deepen: Since the beginning of this year, 331 applications for drug registration have been approved, covering 11 new overseas drugs catering to urgent clinical needs; the consistency evaluation of the quality and efficacy of generic drugs have been completed for 110 varieties and 277 specifications; 658 applications for medical device registration have been approved, covering 14 innovative medical devices, and online electronic application has been achieved for medical device registration; cosmetics registration record-filing management has been improved, registration renewal for special-purpose cosmetics has been adjusted to the Informing & Pledging System for examination and approval, cutting the time cycle for corporate business process from 115 to 15 working days. The supervision of the whole life cycle of drugs has been continuously reinforced, the foundation of scientific supervision has gradually consolidated, and international cooperation has been beefed up. 

This year's Activity of National Safe Medication Month is based on the theme of Safe Medication, Good Law and Good Governance. Good law forms the basis of good governance, which is the goal of good law. As an important means of popularizing science and technology for drug safety, this activity has been held for 12 consecutive years since 2007, and has played an important role in popularizing drug safety knowledge and promoting social co-governance. During the event, drug regulatory authorities at all levels will organize various forms of publicity activities, encompassing public open days, online knowledge competitions, interactive experience workshops, etc., which jointly promote exchanges, enhance public scientific literacy, and promote social cogovernance in the field of drug safety.