Hong Kong Sanatorium and Hospital is set to open up its medical training institute in one or two months, offering a range of courses focused on intensive care units, operating rooms and radiation management, said its deputy medical superintendent, Joseph Chan Woon-tong.

The institute aims to foster knowledge sharing and collaboration by sending staff to local schools and hospitals to share their experiences.

It also plans to engage in exchanges with cities in the Greater Bay Area, thereby bringing advanced medical expertise to various levels of health-care practitioners.

"Our goal is to bring our expertise to the community and provide training that benefits the entire population," Chan said.

He also cited the potential for increased research opportunities, as the diseases handled by health-care professionals in the mainland offer a greater diversity compared to the SAR.

"The newly established institute is envisioned as a platform for academic exchanges between health-care professionals from both regions," Chan said yesterday.

The institute plans to offer an American Heart Association-certified first aid course this year, with participants receiving a two-year certification upon completion.

And physiotherapists will conduct courses and lectures to educate individuals on fall prevention among the elderly and provide health-care knowledge in this area.

Chan said he believed in the exceptional quality of medical services in Hong Kong.

He emphasized the potential for collaboration between public and private institutions, citing the example of the private hospital in Happy Valley, which recently introduced proton therapy technology.

It will also reserve consultation time for children with cancer referred by the Hospital Authority.

Financial assistance from the Children's Cancer Foundation is available for those in need.

Chow Shew-ping, another deputy medical superintendent, said: "The significance of the newly established institute is as a platform for fostering cooperation with local and international counterparts."

He added that many hospitals in foreign countries have established medical colleges to support their own development, and the Hospital Authority itself established the Hospital Authority Academy last year.

While collaboration with the Hospital Authority Academy has not yet been discussed, Chow believes that the possibility of exploring courses recognized by both institutions in the future is worth considering.

Chow emphasized the humanitarian aspect of medical care at Hong Kong Sanatorium and Hospital, stating that health-care professionals should always possess a compassionate heart.

He asserted that this culture holds greater importance than any system or constraint. Despite the heavy workload and various challenges faced in public hospitals, as long as health-care professionals approach their work with sincerity, patients will continue to feel cared for.

Hong Kong Sanatorium and Hospital's proton therapy facility.

HK Sanatorium set on critical-care training