Following the establishment of the National Clinical Research Center for Metabolic Diseases at Shanghai Ruijin Hospital seven years ago, 21 hospitals across the country became provincial sub-centers in the network of the national center to increase early diagnosis and treatment rates, strengthen research on pathogenesis and epidemiology, and reduce prevalence of major metabolic diseases in China.

A launch ceremony for the provincial sub-centers was held at the ongoing third China International Import Expo in Shanghai on Saturday.

Healthy China 2030 Initiative states that management of diabetes, a chronic metabolic disease with major threats to global health, shall cover all patients, and life-cycle chronic disease management should be available for all by 2030.

Ning Guang, an academician with the Chinese Academy of Engineering and president of Ruijin Hospital Affiliated with Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, said that the provincial sub-center program is expected to advance the prevention and treatment of metabolic diseases, and create a win-win model for patients, doctors, hospitals and society.

"We also hope that China's new model of treatment can offer valuable experience for the prevention and treatment of chronic metabolic diseases around the world," said Ning, who is also director of the National Clinical Research Center for Metabolic Diseases and president of the board of the Shanghai Medical and Health Development Foundation.

Ning also emphasized the significance of the centers becoming a platform to further promote clinical research and put research results into action.

He raised the example of insulin, which took only two years to go from the research stage to the formation of an industry in the 1920s. The medication eventually made diabetes, which once had a high mortality rate, a controllable chronic disease.

"Throughout that process, the connections and mutual exchanges between the scientific and technological sector and the industrial circle were actually really important," Ning said.

Julio Gay-Ger, president and general manager of Lilly China, which supports the construction of the provincial sub-centers, said that it is an honor for the company to take part in such initiatives to address public health challenges and the company looks forward to improving healthcare for metabolic diseases in China.

"The company also takes the initiative to cooperate in local clinical research programs regarding prevention as well as early diagnosis and treatment of metabolic diseases," he said.

"And we're committed to collaboration across various areas including metabolic diseases, oncology and COVID-19, especially those with local innovative companies, to ensure local discoveries are not just limited to China but benefit global patients," he said.

According to statistics released by the International Diabetes Federation in November 2019, there were 463 million adults suffering from diabetes in the world, including 116 million in China.