Eli Lilly and Huayi Network Launch Large-Scale Online Medical Education Program Covering Four Key Therapeutic Areas Including Oncology

Today (May 10), Eli Lilly, a global leading pharmaceutical company, and a well-known domestic internetMedicine“Walking Together in Medicine, Educating for the Future” Online Physician Education Program, jointly launched by Huayi Network, Officially Kicks Off Today. The program will integrate the respective advantageous resources of both parties to build a fragmented learning platform for clinicians. By providing flexible, convenient, and diverse online continuing education courses, it aims to further enhance the medical education standards for in-service physicians in China and promote the overall development of the country’s healthcare sector.

Signing Ceremony of Eli Lilly and Company and Huayi Network’s Online Physician Education Project

Dr. Li Wang, Senior Vice President of Eli Lilly China and Head of the Drug Development and Medical Affairs Center; Dr. Haidong Chi, Chief Medical Officer of Eli Lilly China; Ms. Tingting Liu, Head of Medical Education at Eli Lilly China; Dr. Kun Wang, Chairman and President of Huayi Network; Ms. Qin Chao Huang, Vice President of Huayi Network; and Mr. Yefeng Chen, General Manager of Huayi Network’s Shanghai Branch, jointly attended the project launch ceremony. It is reported that the project will leverage Huayi Network’s internet-based medical education platform to provide practicing physicians with a flexible, convenient, and modular professional remote learning portal. Tailored training content, covering disease progression and the latest diagnostic and therapeutic approaches, will be co-developed for clinicians in four major therapeutic areas: oncology, diabetes, central nervous system disorders, and autoimmune diseases. The first phase is expected to deliver more than 30 multi-level, comprehensive premium courses to a cumulative total of 15,000 participants.

Eli Lilly and Company & Huayi Network Physician Online Education Program Launch Ceremony

The Gap in Continuing Medical Education for Practicing Physicians: How Large Is It?

Over the past two years, the dividends of pharmaceutical reform policies have been continuously released, including zero tariffs on anticancer drugs, direct approval based on overseas clinical data for urgently needed medications, and the implicit approval system for drug clinical trials. These measures have directly accelerated the market launch of both imported foreign drugs and independently innovative domestic drugs in China. According to data previously released by the National Medical Products Administration, a total of 48 new drugs were approved for marketing in 2018, among which 38 were imported drugs and 10 were domestically produced new drugs. The improvement in approval efficiency has undoubtedly brought significant benefits to Chinese patients, greatly enhancing their access to medications.

Consequently, the surge of new drugs and novel therapeutic modalities has posed significant challenges to prescribing decisions for practicing physicians. In particular, it has introduced new complexities in understanding the mechanisms of action of original innovative drugs, personalized treatment strategies, and prognostic responses following medication administration, thereby demanding higher levels of professional expertise from physicians.

Professor Zang Yuansheng, Director of the Department of Oncology at Changzheng Hospital Affiliated to Naval Medical University, stated, “China has kept pace with international standards in terms of the accessibility of oncology drugs and treatment modalities. Due to the substantial treatment demand, some innovative drugs have chosen China as their global launch site. Last year, 18 new oncology drugs were approved for marketing in China, covering indications for multiple high-incidence cancers, including rectal cancer, liver cancer, non-small cell lung cancer, ovarian cancer, breast cancer, and melanoma. The continuous emergence of novel therapeutic mechanisms is unfamiliar not only to patients but also to physicians. In response to this situation, the National Health Commission issued the Guidelines for the Clinical Application of Novel Antineoplastic Drugs last September, which set forth specific requirements for the indications, drug selection, and administration regimens of oncology medications. Therefore, clinical oncologists urgently need to continuously update their existing knowledge base to meet the new requirements for drug usage.”

Breaking the Deadlock in Healthcare Services: Education First

In this regard, Professor Yang Sen, Director of the Department of Dermatology and Venereology at the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, added, “In China, the landscape of dermatology differs from that of oncology; access to advanced therapeutic agents still lags behind developed countries, and there is considerable room for improvement in disease knowledge systems and treatment concepts. Currently, practicing dermatologists have limited options for continuing medical education platforms and opportunities, most of which are dominated by offline academic conferences. In terms of both time cost and learning motivation, these are far less convenient and flexible than online training.”

Remarks by Dr. Wang Kun, Chairman and President of Huayi Network

“This strategic cooperation signing ceremony marks the beginning of our long-term exchange of advantageous resources and in-depth collaboration. We are committed to advancing initiatives in physician education, health management, and other areas. Through the professional and close collaboration of both teams, we will accumulate extensive specialized academic resources in relevant fields and leverage online education platforms to better serve physicians and benefit patients, jointly promoting”Healthcare“technological innovation and accelerated development in the industry,” introduced Dr. Wang Kun, Chairman and President of Huayi Network.

“Medicine is a profession that demands lifelong learning. In an era of constantly evolving medical knowledge and rapidly advancing innovative technologies, only through continuous study and improvement can physicians provide better treatment for patients.” Professor Li Yiming, Director of the Department of Endocrinology at Huashan Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University, expressed similar views. He pointed out, “Although the field of endocrinology primarily deals with common and chronic diseases, the perceived ‘simplicity’ of these conditions necessitates even more scientific and rational medication guidance tailored to changes in patients’ conditions. In particular, the scientific use of new drugs relies heavily on endocrinologists’ comprehensive knowledge system regarding diabetes management. Continuing medical education for practicing physicians serves as an effective complement to foundational medical education and postgraduate medical education within the academic degree framework. As the longest-lasting phase of learning, it plays a pivotal role in promoting the continuous improvement of clinicians’ professional competence in later stages of their careers. We hope that the collaboration between Eli Lilly and Huayi Network will generate new teaching approaches by leveraging the best resources from both parties in their respective fields of expertise, thereby delivering high-quality, practical courses to more endocrinologists.”

Dr. Li Wang, Senior Vice President of Eli Lilly China and Head of the Drug Development and Medical Affairs Center, delivered remarks

Dr. Li Wang, Senior Vice President of Eli Lilly China and Head of the Drug Development and Medical Affairs Center, stated, “As a trusted long-term partner in China’s healthcare sector, Eli Lilly has been committed to leveraging scientific innovation to comprehensively elevate the standard of medical care in China and benefit more patients with high-quality medical services. Previously, Eli Lilly collaborated with multiple medical institutions across China by implementing various physician education and training programs, aiming to enhance the diagnostic and treatment capabilities of both specialist and primary-care physicians. This collaboration with Huayi Network, a professional internet-based medical education platform, marks another exploration by Eli Lilly in physician training and education. We are confident that the complementary strengths of our combined resources will bring a beneficial initiative to the field of online medical education in China.”