The medical sector is sponsoring 38 med students and nurses to participate in two-week exchange programs at hospitals affiliated with Shanghai Jiao Tong University and Peking University.

The programs, scheduled for June and July, aim to broaden their horizons and exposure by providing them with firsthand experience at mainland medical institutions.

David Lam Tzit-yuen, who represents the medical and health services sector in the Legislative Council and chairs Project Empadurance, a scholarship set up last year, expressed his hopes for the students' growth through these programs.

"Students will engage in discussion classes and practical sessions in specialized departments such as surgery, cardiology, stoma and wound care, as well as the use of non-invasive ventilators," he said.

In addition to academic aspects, Lam cited the importance of students immersing themselves in mainland culture and lifestyle habits during their leisure time.

Peking University will reciprocate by sending over 20 medical and nursing students to visit for two weeks in July.

Lam expressed his desire for Hong Kong students to support and assist the mainland exchange students in order to foster mutual understanding of the medical systems in both regions.

He also wants the program to become an annual event.

He suggested the formation of alumni associations to provide support and guidance to participants.

Engle Angela Chan, associate head of the undergraduate section for the faculty of health and social sciences at Polytechnic University, said students were selected based on critical thinking, creative thinking and team spirit criteria.

The exchange programs, she added, would help them understand the division of labor in mainland hospitals and primary medical care, as well as the collaboration between Chinese and Western medicine.

Each student will be awarded an HK$8,000 scholarship and receive full sponsorship for the two-week exchange.

Au Pui-chi, a third-year nursing student at Chinese University, expressed enthusiasm over her upcoming Beijing exchange, saying her desire is to gain insights into medical technology and research developments and to learn how to apply Chinese-Western medicine collaboration in Hong Kong.

Jessie Yeung Cheuk-Sze, a fourth-year student in CUHK's programme global physician-leadership stream who will be going to Shanghai, said there were limited opportunities in the past to interact with mainland doctors.

She hopes understanding the challenges and difficulties faced by each health-care system will contribute to the improvement of the system here.

The first group of exchange students will depart for Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital, affiliated with Shanghai Jiao Tong University, on June 3, while the second will head for Peking University's Health Sciences Centre on July 10.

David Lam, center, announces the exchanges with representatives from universities, colleges and bodies here. Below: Peking University.

China linkup for med students