Johnson & Johnson Aims to Position China as a Global Digital Healthcare Innovation Hub: Interview with Song Weiqun, Company Group Chairman, China

Original Title: Exclusive Interview with Song Weiqun, Global Senior Vice President at Johnson & Johnson: Transforming the Chinese Market into a Global Engine for Digital Health Innovation

BEIJING, June 10 (China News Service) -- Title:(Invest in China) Exclusive Interview with Song Weiqun, Global Senior Vice President of Johnson & Johnson: Turning the Chinese Market into a Global Digital Healthcare Innovation Engine

Author: Wenwen Liu

“Looking back on the development of minimally invasive surgical technology in China over the past few decades, Johnson & Johnson has been a participant and a witness, and even more so, a pioneering leader at the forefront,” said Song Weiqun, Global Senior Vice President of Johnson & Johnson and Chairman of Johnson & Johnson China, in a recent exclusive interview with China News Service.

Since the first laparoscopic minimally invasive surgery was performed in Qujing, Yunnan, in 1991, the past three decades of laparoscopic surgery have witnessed China’s minimally invasive surgery field grow from inception to a mature discipline, with its technologies evolving from rudimentary to highly sophisticated. From Johnson & Johnson’s perspective, what new opportunities will emerge in the future development of China’s healthcare sector?

Fostering an Innovation Ecosystem, Building an Open Framework

From becoming the world's first company to mass-produce sterile surgical sutures in 1886, to launching the first disposable skin stapler in 1978, and to introducing the world's most advanced minimally invasive surgical devices and non-invasive surgical robots today, Johnson & Johnson MedTech has consistently remained at the forefront of innovative products and technologies in the surgical field.

Song Weiqun noted that the primary reason Johnson & Johnson has become an industry leader lies in its successful capture of innovation opportunities within the development of the healthcare sector. By continuously introducing innovative global products and technologies, serving the steadily upgrading healthcare market in China, and strengthening local R&D and innovation capabilities, the company has not only secured tremendous development opportunities but also fostered new prospects for medical innovation and development.

He believes that to continue strengthening domestic innovation capabilities, it is essential to promptly establish an open and diverse innovation ecosystem. Only by enabling all partners to innovate can we drive the development of the entire healthcare industry.

“Building a diverse and open innovation ecosystem to provide more fertile ground for medical innovation is the unshirkable responsibility of Johnson & Johnson as an industry leader, and a vital condition for the sustainable and healthy development of the entire industry.”

Capture Market Dynamics, Meet Local Needs

The "Healthy China" strategy has brought unprecedented opportunities to the health industry, and China's population base of 1.4 billion has created a massive healthcare market. In addition, the rising income levels of Chinese residents and the deepening of healthcare reform have provided a strong driving force for the high-quality development of the healthcare sector.

In 2019, Johnson & Johnson China was positioned by its corporate headquarters as a "global innovation engine," thereby establishing the Chinese market as a strategic priority driven by the company's global dual engines of "growth and innovation." Commenting on this, Song Weiqun stated that this marks one of the most significant milestone transformations in Johnson & Johnson's over 30 years of development in China. Looking ahead, Johnson & Johnson will further invest in local R&D and innovation, advanced intelligent manufacturing, and professional education capabilities to more effectively stay attuned to market dynamics and serve local needs.

Currently, there is a strong demand for the downward allocation of medical resources, and how to deliver high-quality medical services to second- and third-tier cities is a critical issue. In this regard, Song Weiqun stated that Johnson & Johnson is actively supporting the extension of medical resources to second- and third-tier cities. In 2020 alone, through both online and offline channels, the company supported the training of over 2 million healthcare professionals, aiming to equip more Chinese doctors, particularly those in second- and third-tier cities, with the most advanced medical technologies so as to provide high-quality healthcare services to patients across China.

Rooted in the Chinese Market, Building a Global Digital Innovation Engine

Currently, the Chinese market is experiencing new opportunities brought by the wave of digitalization, as digital technologies such as artificial intelligence, 5G, big data, and the Internet of Things accelerate their integration with the healthcare sector, ushering in a new chapter of digital revolution for the entire medical industry.

Song Weiqun stated that under the new normal, Johnson & Johnson’s medical devices, pharmaceuticals, and consumer health businesses are all accelerating their digital transformation to empower business development through digitalization. In the pharmaceuticals segment, the company is accelerating the exploration of new healthcare service models such as e-hospitals. In the consumer health sector, more than half of its business in China comes from online channels. Regarding medical devices, the development of digital diagnosis and treatment, digital professional education, digital surgery, and internal digital operational capabilities is also being rapidly advanced.

He envisions that the future innovation opportunities and growth drivers for China's healthcare industry will lie in leveraging the favorable policy environment that supports innovation, coupled with China's globally leading digital development capabilities and talent advantages, to export China's innovative digital technologies, products, and services worldwide, serve patients across the globe, and position the Chinese market as a global engine for digital innovation.

"We look forward to bringing more innovations originating from China to the world." (End)

【Editor: Fang Jialiang】