Hong Kong Faces Healthcare Workforce Challenges Amid Plans for New Medical School

Projected Doctor Shortage Prompts Discussions on Third Medical School

HONG KONG: According to a recent report by Elizabeth Cheung in the South China Morning Post, Hong Kong is grappling with a significant healthcare workforce shortage. The city is projected to face a deficit of 1,440 doctors in 2025, with this number expected to increase to 1,570 by 2030. In response to these challenges, discussions are underway regarding the establishment of a third medical school in the city.

Government Emphasizes Local Alignment for New Medical Programs

Libby Lee Ha-yun (pictured/ image credit: Xiaomei Chen), Hong Kong’s Undersecretary for Health, has outlined key conditions for any new medical program seeking recognition in the city. Lee stressed the importance of aligning curricula with local needs, stating:

“The content of the programme is the most important. It must meet local requirements and demands … if it just directly copied an overseas university programme and made no changes based on the local situation, it would be relatively difficult to meet standards set by the Medical Council of Hong Kong.”

This statement comes in the wake of reports that the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) is in talks with Imperial College London to establish a new medical institution.

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Existing Hospitals Deemed Unsuitable for New Teaching Facilities

The report also highlights that existing hospitals in Hong Kong are not considered suitable for accommodating new medical programs. Lee explained:

“Existing hospitals do not have facilities suitable for a university operation. A university hospital would need other hardware, such as laboratories and research facilities for teaching staff, but hospitals in general do not have these.”

This stance rules out the possibility of using current healthcare facilities, such as Queen Elizabeth Hospital, as teaching hospitals for any new medical programs.

Dental Workforce Projections Spark Debate

While the focus has been on the doctor shortage, the article also touches on the dental workforce situation in Hong Kong. Recent projections suggest a potential surplus of 20 dentists by 2040, a forecast that has been met with skepticism by some lawmakers.

Peter Koon Ho-ming, a legislator, expressed surprise at this projection, stating:

“I’m a bit surprised to learn from the authorities there will be a surplus in [dentists]. In the future, with an ageing population, I don’t think there will be a surplus in dental services.”

The methodology behind these projections has been questioned, particularly in light of recent legislative changes aimed at increasing the number of non-locally trained dental professionals in the city.

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Concerns Over Mental Health Service Projections

The article also notes concerns regarding the projected supply of psychiatric nurses. Lawmaker Kitson Yang Wing-kit raised doubts about the accuracy of projections suggesting sufficient psychiatric nurse supply by 2030, citing recent cases of student suicides and questioning whether community and school needs were adequately factored into the estimates.

Future Considerations for Workforce Projections

The Hong Kong Health Bureau has acknowledged that current projections do not account for factors such as the trend of Hong Kong residents seeking medical services in mainland China or recent policy changes to introduce more non-locally trained dentists and nurses. Lee indicated that these factors could be incorporated into future projections, which are conducted every three years.

As Hong Kong continues to navigate its healthcare workforce challenges, the development of a potential third medical school and the accuracy of workforce projections remain topics of significant interest and debate within the city’s healthcare and political spheres.