Medical programme must align with city’s needs to gain recognition in Hong Kong: official

Undersecretary for health lays out conditions for third medical school, while saying existing hospitals can’t serve as teaching facilities

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Hong Kong is projected to be short of 1,440 doctors next year, with the figure rising to 1,570 by 2030. Photo: Xiaomei Chen

Published: 6:46pm, 12 Jul 2024Updated: 8:51pm, 12 Jul 2024

Medical programmes in Hong Kong must cater to local needs to win recognition from the licensing council, a senior health official has said, after the Post reported a university was in talks with a leading London college over establishing a new institution to train doctors.

Undersecretary for Health Libby Lee Ha-yun on Friday also ruled out the possibility of using existing hospitals for teaching any new medical programmes, saying they were not suitable for the purpose.

Lee laid down the conditions as lawmakers reviewed the latest manpower projection for the healthcare sector presented by officials. The city is estimated to be short of 1,440 doctors next year, with the figure rising to 1,570 by 2030.

The Post earlier reported the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) was discussing establishing a medical school in the city with Imperial College London.

The school would be the city’s third, joining facilities operated by the University of Hong Kong and the Chinese University of Hong Kong.

Without naming any institution, Lee said ensuring medical programmes met local standards was crucial.