Medic search to press farther across world

The Hospital Authority is considering an aggressive global talent scheme to lure nonlocal medical professionals to Hong Kong, says chairman Henry Fan Hung-ling.

The idea is for talent from all over the world to come over for short-term employment, "a year or two in the HA," Fan said yesterday during the authority's seminar at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre which was attended by 120 speakers from around the world and some 6,700 participants.

Under the plan the overseas talent will undergo advanced training in specialties of their choice, which will enrich their professional experience, Fan said.

"Health care is all about people, both the giver and the receiver," he said, adding the HA will spare no effort in retaining incumbent staff.

"On top of prioritizing the recruitment of suitable graduates from local universities, we have been looking for opportunities to recruit more nonlocally trained doctors through limited registration and special registration to strengthen."

The authority has launched exchange programs between medical professionals in Hong Kong and mainland cities in the Greater Bay Area. The first batch of about 80 medics have already been welcomed to Hong Kong.

Fan thanked HA staff, saying their tireless efforts during the pandemic helped enable Hong Kong to resume normalcy.

The authority is stepping up with smart hospital development, offering efficient patient services, he said, adding the HA will reinforce cooperation with private hospitals and clinics.

The authority also aims to implement the primary health-care blueprint enabling individuals to have a designated family doctor.

Chief executive Tony Ko Pat-sing said the pandemic has "accelerated the application of digitization in health care, automation, artificial intelligence and robotics."

He added: "With the development of the HA's mobile app - HA Go - the 'digital front door' for services is gradually opening.

"With further development of a 'virtual hospital' in mind, we foresee the expansion of domains of tele-health in the HA in the long run to cover tele-consultations for accidents and emergencies, outpatients, day patients and inpatients, tele-hospital visits, etc."

Ko said a dedicated team has been set up to provide overseas doctors interested to work in the city to undergo formal interviews. More than 500 medical students and practitioners joined the recruitment event in London last month.

National Health Commission member Yu Yanhong said Hong Kong should speed up the coordination of cross-border medical services. Yu also encouraged Chinese medicine practitioners in Hong Kong to work in the mainland and for the city to also strengthen overseas medical exchanges.

wallis.wang@singtaonewscorp.com