The Health Bureau announced that the government is dedicated to supporting health and medical research in Hong Kong through the Health & Medical Research Fund (HMRF).
In light of recent media coverage on funding for infectious disease research, the bureau emphasized its ongoing commitment to the local health sector. Since its 2011 establishment, the HMRF's funding has grown to HK$4.22 billion, with HK$1.2 billion allocated specifically for infectious diseases.
This includes six commissioned programs with HK$792 million in funding, focusing on COVID-19, MERS, influenza, and antimicrobial resistance. Since April 2020, HK$556 million has been used for 105 COVID-19 studies that provide vital evidence for government health policies and vaccination efforts.
The government encourages researchers to maximize the HMRF's resources to enhance health policy impacts. It will continue to support research aimed at improving surveillance, early detection, and prevention of infectious diseases.
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