TOPIC INSIGHT • 專題探討 2022 UMAGAZINE 26 • 澳大新語 45 Optimising Disciplinary Layout for the Health Industry Released in September 2021, the Master Plan of the Development of the Guangdong-Macao In-depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin has provided new opportunities to promote the development of the Chinese medicine industry. According to the Second Five-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development of the Macao SAR (2021-2025), Macao’s future economic growth will come from the health industry, with Chinese medicine R&D and manufacturing as an entry point, as well as the industries of modern finance, high technology, exhibitions, trade, culture, and sports. To further promote the development of the Chinese medicine industry in Macao, the Macao SAR government upgraded the Health Bureau’s former Department of Pharmaceutical Affairs to the Pharmaceutical Administration Bureau in January 2022, and a law governing pharmaceutical activities within the scope of traditional Chinese medicine and the registration of traditional Chinese medicines came into force at the same time. This series of policies has provided an impetus for the development of the health industry. To respond to the demand for health industry professionals in Macao, the Greater Bay Area, and the entire country, UM has optimised its academic programmes and disciplinary layout in recent years. In 2021, the university combined the teaching resources of FHS and ICMS to create three departments, namely the Department of Biomedical Sciences, the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, and the Department of Public Health and Medicinal Administration. The university also introduced new academic programmes and enhanced existing programmes. Through the three departments, UM currently offers three bachelor’s degree programmes, in biomedical sciences, bioinformatics, and pharmaceutical sciences and technology, and four master’s degree programmes, in data science – precision medicine, Chinese medical science, global public health, and medicinal administration. In addition, UM offers a PhD programme in biomedical sciences. Xiang Yutao, head of the Department of Public Health and Medicinal Administration, who is an active researcher in areas such as clinical psychiatric epidemiology and clinical psychiatry, says that public health is a science concerned with improving the health of populations, adding that the core scientific components of public health include prevention, epidemiology, surveillance, bioinformatics, health and medicinal administration, and laboratory science. ‘Over the past two years or so, many universities around the world have placed a special emphasis on the development of public health programmes. UM also established the Department of Public Health and Medicinal Administration in a timely manner and launched the Master of Science in Global Public Health programme via the department from a crisis management perspective. The programme aims to equip students with knowledge of global public health, epidemiology based on public health, statistical analysis, epidemic disease, health policy management, and related risk management,’ says Prof Xiang. Graduates Pursue Careers in Medicine and Health Industries In 2002, UM began to offer a research-oriented Master of Philosophy in Medicinal Administration programme, which has produced many outstanding graduates for the industry. According to Hu Yuanjia, associate head of the 澳大新課程培養大健康產業人才 UM offers new programmes to nurture professionals for the health industry
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