Baptist U wins tender to operate Chinese medicine hospital in TKO

Hong Kong Baptist University has won the tender to operate the SAR's first Chinese medicine hospital, a 400-bed facility that will be in Tseung Kwan O.

It was selected from bidders that included Pok Oi Hospital, Tung Wah Group of Hospitals and Yan Oi Tong.

Clement Chen Cheng-jen, chairman of the Baptist University council and court, was delighted with winning the contract, saying it was a recognition of the university's leading role in developing Chinese medicine.

"It will allow us to promote the establishment of a development model for Chinese medicine in Hong Kong and make even greater contributions to the development of Chinese medicine in Hong Kong, the Greater Bay Area and the world," he declared.

President and vice-chancellor Alexander Wai Ping-kong said the hospital would be a major boost for the sector in Hong Kong and deliver big opportunities for Chinese medicine overall.

Located in Pak Shing Kok, the hospital will begin operations in phases from mid-2025. That means outpatient and day-patient services in the first year, inpatient services in the second and pediatric inpatient services in the fourth and fifth years.

The hospital will be a nine-story building, and planners expect it to serve between 1,000 and 1,200 patients daily.

A clinical trial center will also be established within the first five years of its operation.

The project is adopting a public-private partnership model, with government funds going into construction and the university operating it.

The cost of the hospital has been estimated at HK$8.62 billion, with an additional HK$1.04 billion needed for funding services, training and research.

Preliminary assumptions also include the hospital needing to hire around 100 Chinese medicine practitioners, 20 to 30 doctors and 200 health care staffers.

The hospital will also collaborate with Baptist University, the University of Hong Kong and the Chinese University to provide clinical training for undergraduate and postgraduate students.

The Food and Health Bureau said a service deed will cover arrangements for commissioning work, a 10-year service period that can be extended by up to five years and a six-year post-service period.

The university will also have to set up a limited company to manage, operate and maintain the hospital.

carine.chow@singtaonewscorp.com