Find prescription for Hong Kong medical staff shortage
- City must discover ways to attract and retain more doctors and nurses to ensure public healthcare is not compromised
Much has been said about how a manpower shortage has been holding back Hong Kong’s post-pandemic recovery. But nothing hurts more than a shortfall of healthcare professionals, the impact of which has been increasingly felt in recent years.
A comprehensive strategy covering short- and long-term measures is needed to ensure public healthcare will not be compromised.
According to the latest projections, there will be a shortage of 1,570 doctors and 180 dentists by 2030. While the supply of the former is expected to ease to 1,400 in 2035, there will still be a shortfall of 1,200 by 2040.
However, the impact of measures to increase the number of dentists will gradually be felt, with the shortage standing at 120 in 2035 before turning into a surplus of 20 in 2040. Other professionals, however, may continue to experience a serious manpower crunch.
The situation is hardly surprising. But it highlights the sense of urgency when the scale of the problem is put into perspective.
If there is any comfort, it will come from the expected healthy supply of chiropractors, occupational therapists, physiotherapists and midwives. The surplus for the latter, for instance, is expected to range from 1,070 to 1,140 in the coming 15 years.
It has been suggested adjustments should be made to the nursing curriculum and greater flexibility allowed to help ease the shortage of general nurses.
The authorities, to their credit, have taken various measures to tackle the chronic problem. These include the proactive recruitment of doctors from Britain as well as enhancing moves to sign up qualified healthcare professionals from elsewhere.
But, as far as some specific disciplines are concerned, there does not seem to be any immediate relief.
Medical professionals are like antibodies protecting people’s well-being, and the lack of them will certainly upset collective public health. But, amid a serious brain drain fuelled by various reasons in recent years, they are also quitting the city for greener pastures overseas.
The authorities must proactively explore new ways to retain and attract talent so that people’s health will be adequately covered by the healthcare system.
