In the past, when I was diagnosed with a serious illness, my first reaction was to go back to Hong Kong and use imported drugs. Now, I will flexibly choose to seek medical treatment in Hong Kong or mainland China according to the treatment plan, and truly feel the convenience brought by the complementary medical resources in the Greater Bay Area. "Hong Kong citizen Guo Jialin, who returned to Hong Kong for re examination after completing stage chemotherapy at Shenzhen United Family Hospital, talked about his experience of cross-border medical treatment with a calm and confident tone. At present, "going north" on holidays has become a normal life for Hong Kong citizens. In addition to traditional consumption such as shopping, dining, and entertainment, more and more Hong Kong people are choosing mainland cities such as Shenzhen and Guangzhou in the Guangdong Hong Kong Macao Greater Bay Area as a new option for "going north for medical treatment". The sharing of medical resources, the connection of service systems, and the interconnection of living circles are quietly reshaping the life trajectory of residents in the Greater Bay Area. In 2020, Guo Jialin, who worked in Shanghai, was diagnosed with advanced lung cancer. At that time, due to his limited understanding of the treatment level for major diseases in mainland China, he chose to return to Hong Kong for targeted treatment after only one week of diagnosis. A few years later, when the condition required adjustment of treatment plans, Guo Jialin, who was already volunteering at a non-profit cancer care institution in Hong Kong, learned from volunteer friends that medical institutions in Shenzhen could provide more flexible and personalized chemotherapy services. So he started a life of weekly treatment in the north. There are dedicated personnel here to follow up on side effects after each chemotherapy session, and they can respond quickly in case of emergencies at night. The service is very attentive. ”The hospitals in Shenzhen have left a deep impression on Guo Jialin in terms of service meticulousness and response speed. This weekly medical journey across the Shenzhen River not only eased his illness, but also opened a window of hope. Nowadays, Guo Jialin's physical strength is gradually recovering, and the frequency of treatment has been reduced from once a week to monthly follow-up. During treatment breaks, he often participates in volunteer work in the cross-border mutual aid community for cancer patients in the Greater Bay Area, helping more patients understand medical resources in both regions. I hope to help them pave a smoother and wider path of confidence. In recent years, with the continuous optimization of China's pharmaceutical innovation ecosystem, more and more new drugs and therapies have been launched in mainland China. Nowadays, not only mainland patients come to Hong Kong seeking specific cancer treatment, but also friends from Canada and Singapore choose to seek medical treatment in mainland China. Patients' medical choices are becoming increasingly diverse, "said Guo Jialin. Guo Jialin often helps Hong Kong friends who have never been to the mainland to download WeChat and provide guidance on how to use it, gradually becoming the "mainland guide" in the eyes of friends and family. The establishment of confidence originates from personal experience and also permeates daily life. Guo Jialin mentioned that mainland e-commerce platforms can now directly deliver goods to Hong Kong with good quality and affordable prices. This convenient and smooth shopping experience has naturally enhanced Hong Kong residents' closeness and trust in the mainland in their daily lives, "said Guo Jialin with emotion." Whether it is seeking medical treatment or daily life, this' road 'is getting wider and smoother. Building a' bridge ': institutional innovation promotes complementary advantages. "In earlier years, Hong Kong people came to Shenzhen mostly for consumer medical care such as teeth cleaning and physical examinations. ”Xiao Yihuang, Chief Operating Officer of New Wind Tianyu Group in the Greater Bay Area, observed that in recent years, the medical needs of Hong Kong people going north are shifting from health care as the main focus to disease treatment as the core. In his view, behind this transformation is the aggregation of multiple advantages. The mainland has abundant clinical resources and diverse cases, and doctors have profound experience in dealing with complex and difficult diseases. At the same time, medical institutions in mainland cities of the Greater Bay Area have continuously strengthened their medical teams that have received Hong Kong style training and are familiar with the medical habits of Hong Kong people, significantly enhancing their service attractiveness. In November 2020, the National Medical Products Administration launched the "Innovative Development Plan for Drug and Medical Device Regulation in the Guangdong Hong Kong Macao Greater Bay Area", implementing the "Hong Kong Macao Drug and Medical Device Connect", allowing designated medical institutions in the Greater Bay Area to use drugs and medical devices registered in Hong Kong but not yet listed in mainland China, paving the way for medical integration between the two regions. As of December 8, 2025, the "Hong Kong Macau Medical Device Connect" policy has approved a total of 63 drugs and 77 medical devices for use in 71 designated medical institutions in 9 cities in the Guangdong Hong Kong Macau Greater Bay Area, covering multiple treatment areas such as tumors and chronic diseases, providing patients with more internationally connected treatment options. Under the policy of "hard connectivity", the service of "soft connectivity" is synchronously following up. Many medical institutions in the Greater Bay Area have added appointment consultation channels for commonly used communication software for Hong Kong residents, optimized the cross-border medical expense settlement process, and focused on improving the cross-border secure transmission mechanism of medical information such as electronic medical records, striving to make the entire medical process smoother. Hong Kong patients have a broad international perspective and high demands, which not only puts pressure on us, but also drives us to innovate and improve service quality. ”Xiao Yihuang said. The choice of the market confirms the effectiveness of integration. At Shenzhen United Family Hospital, the proportion of Hong Kong patients has risen from less than 1% at the beginning of 2023 to over 30% currently. From "Drug and Equipment Communication" to "Service Communication" and "Information Communication", a medical collaboration bridge centered on patient health and crossing institutional and geographical boundaries has been built on the banks of Lingdingyang. The deepening of medical cooperation and the integration of people's livelihoods to create a better quality of life is a brilliant stroke in the grand picture of building a 'high-quality living circle' in the Greater Bay Area. ”The Secretary for Medical and Health Services of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, Lu Chongmao, stated that currently, the integration of people's livelihoods is being promoted with unprecedented breadth and depth. The pilot program for elderly medical vouchers in the Greater Bay Area continues to expand its coverage, extending to 21 service points in 9 cities in mainland China. Over 1.78 million eligible elderly people in Hong Kong can directly use medical vouchers to pay for basic medical services in mainland China. The "Greater Bay Area Cross border Direct Ambulance Trial Plan" officially implemented in 2024 has opened up a green channel for the life transfer of critically ill patients, marking an important breakthrough in the cross-border emergency rescue system. The interconnectivity of transportation networks continues to inject momentum into the integrated development of Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao. Following the successful implementation of the "Hong Kong car northbound" policy in 2023, the "Guangdong car southbound" entry policy into the urban area of Hong Kong in 2025 has also been officially launched, achieving "two-way travel" for cross-border travel between Guangdong and Hong Kong. The increasingly dense traffic and pedestrian flow weave the daily scene of work, life, and leisure for residents in the Bay Area. The outline of a comprehensive "Greater Bay Area Quality Living Circle" covering education, employment, entrepreneurship, elderly care, social security and other fields is becoming increasingly clear. As Guo Jialin personally felt, "The 'one more path' in healthcare is actually the path of confidence and hope." The bridge has been opened, the road is wider, and the circle is becoming more and more integrated. A world-class bay area and city cluster with abundant development vitality, outstanding innovation capabilities, and abundant livelihood benefits are accelerating from blueprint to reality. (New Society)