Opinion | Advance HK's healthcare in pragmatic and proactive ways
By Dennis Lam
Recently, President Xi Jinping met with Hong Kong SAR's Chief Executive John Lee, who came to Beijing to report on his work. President Xi stated that over the past year, CE Lee has led the SAR government with a proactive and pragmatic approach, historically completing the legislation of Article 23 of the Basic Law. The government focused on boosting the economy and development, addressing public issues such as housing and healthcare, enhancing external exchanges and cooperation, and continuously increasing international influence, further consolidating the positive trend of Hong Kong's stable development. The central government fully recognizes the work of CE Lee and the SAR government.
President Xi's important speech injects strong momentum into Hong Kong's development and points the way for the SAR government's future policies. Healthcare, as the foundation of people's livelihood, has always been a top priority for the SAR government. This administration has faced challenges in the healthcare sector, introducing a series of pragmatic and effective policies that not only address the real problems faced by citizens but also inject new vitality into Hong Kong's healthcare system. I have deep personal experience in this regard.
In terms of healthcare human resources strategy, facing the severe challenge of shortages of doctors and nurses, the SAR government has decisively simplified the qualification certification process for foreign medical personnel coming to Hong Kong, actively attracting outstanding medical talent from abroad. The implementation of this policy has effectively alleviated the staffing crisis in public hospitals, significantly shortened patient waiting times, and greatly improved the quality of medical services, resulting in tangible feelings of gain and happiness.
At the same time, the SAR government announced the "Primary Healthcare Blueprint," which clearly sets the goal of establishing community health centers in all districts. These centers not only provide free or low-cost primary healthcare services but also actively conduct health education activities to guide citizens in developing correct health concepts. This helps improve the accessibility and quality of primary healthcare, reduces pressure on public hospitals, and ensures the rational allocation of medical resources. In promoting the development of traditional Chinese medicine, the Chinese Medicine Hospital of Hong Kong, set to open in 2025, will provide a more professional platform for Chinese medicine services, promoting deep integration and collaborative development between Chinese and Western medicine, providing citizens with more comprehensive and diverse medical services to meet the health needs of different groups.
The ongoing reforms in emergency room services are also a major highlight of the SAR government's work. In response to overcrowding and long wait times in emergency rooms, the government has introduced a new management system, increased the number of emergency medical personnel, and comprehensively upgraded emergency room facilities.
The SAR government also places great importance on the innovation and development of medical technology, promoting Hong Kong to become an international hub for medical innovation. It provides strong financial support to medical institutions and research organizations and encourages in-depth exploration and research in cutting-edge fields such as artificial intelligence and big data analysis. This promotes the intelligent and precise development of medical services, bringing more convenient and efficient medical experiences to patients and further enhancing Hong Kong's competitiveness in the field of medical technology.
The government vigorously encourages cross-boundary medical cooperation in the Greater Bay Area (GBA). In this context, the medical institutions under my supervision are preparing to establish a comprehensive specialty hospital at Lo Wu, dedicated to providing high-quality, efficient, and reasonably priced Hong Kong-style medical services to patients from mainland cities in the GBA. On the other hand, this provides an additional option for grassroots citizens and the elderly in Hong Kong, given the long waiting times in public hospitals and the high costs of private hospitals.
Healthcare is the foundation of people's livelihood and relates to the happiness and well-being of every family. The SAR government, along with the medical industry, is working together to provide citizens with comprehensive and continuous health protection, which is also the proper course for Hong Kong to further promote its development. We firmly believe that with the strong support of the central government and the strong leadership of the SAR government, Hong Kong will continue to maintain its unique institutional advantages and international status, striving to open new horizons for reform and development.
(Source: Ta Kung Pao)
The author is a Hong Kong ophthalmologist, businessman and politician. He has been a Hong Kong deputy to the National People's Congress (NPC) since 2008 and a member of the Election Committee.
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