Policy Forum on Building a Sustainable Healthcare System for Hong Kong

28–29 July 2023   |   Cho Yiu Conference Hall, CUHK & Online

Speakers

Welcoming Address

Prof. Rocky S. C. Tuan
Vice Chancellor & President, CUHK

Opening Address

Dr Libby H. Y. Lee
Undersecretary for Health, HKSAR Government

Keynote Speeches

Dr Hon David T. Y. Lam
Member, Legislative Council, HKSAR Government

Prof. Michael Kidd
Professor of Global Primary Care and Future Health Systems,
Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences (NDPCHS),
University of Oxford, United Kingdom;

Director, Centre for Future Health Systems,
University of New South Wales, Australia

Prof. Eleanor Holroyd
Associate Dean (International, and Engagement),
Faculty of Health and Environmental Sciences,
Auckland University of Technology, New Zealand

Panel Session 1: Sustainability of Healthcare Systems

Dr Ben Y. F. Fong (Moderator)
Director, Centre for Ageing and Healthcare Management Research,
College of Professional and Continuing Education,
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Prof. Albert Lee
Emeritus Professor,
The Jockey Club School of Public Health and Primary Care, CUHK

Prof. Kenneth N. K. Fong
Professor, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences,
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Dr Hon David T. Y. Lam
Member, Legislative Council, HKSAR Government

Prof. Martin C. S. Wong
Professor,
The Jockey Club School of Public Health and Primary Care, CUHK

Dr Vincent T. S. Law
Deputy Director, Centre for Ageing and Healthcare Management Research, College of Professional and Continuing Education,
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Panel Session 2: Public Health Crises

Dr Stephen Y. S. Wong (Moderator)
Head, Chief Executive’s Policy Unit, HKSAR Government

Dr Thomas Tsang
Former President, Hong Kong College of Community Medicine

Dr Daniel C. S. Chiu
Council Member, Hong Kong College of Community Health Practitioners

Prof. Zhixiu Lin
Director, School of Chinese Medicine, CUHK

Dr William C. W. Wong
Clinical Associate Professor and Chief of Research,
Department of Family Medicine and Primary Care,
School of Clinical Medicine, The University of Hong Kong

Dr Victor Zheng
Associate Director (Executive), HKIAPS, CUHK

Panel Session 3: Capacity Building in Primary Healthcare

Prof. Anthony Y. H. Fung (Moderator)
Director, HKIAPS, CUHK

Prof. Sally Chan
President, Tung Wah College

Dr Stephen F. C. Pang
Commissioner for Primary Healthcare,
Health Bureau, HKSAR Government

Mr Jimmy Wong
Former President,
The Hong Kong College of Community and Public Health Nursing

Dr Kam-leung Chan
Lecturer, Hong Kong Institute of Integrative Medicine, CUHK

Dr Joseph W. F. Leung
Lecturer, College of Professional and Continuing Education,
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Panel Session 4: Financing Sustainable Healthcare Systems

Prof. Vivian Lee (Moderator)
Associate Professor,
Centre for Learning Enhancement and Research, CUHK

Prof. Peter P. Yuen
Dean, College of Professional and Continuing Education,
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Prof. Albert Lee
Emeritus Professor,
The Jockey Club School of Public Health and Primary Care, CUHK

Dr Donald K. T. Li
Chairman,
Elderly Commission, HKSAR Government

Dr Jonathan H. O. Wai
Medical Superintendent, Precious Blood Hospital (Caritas)

Dr Fowie Ng
Associate Professor,
School of Management, Tung Wah College

Rountable Discussion and Closing Remarks

Prof. Anthony Y. H. Fung (Moderator)
Director, HKIAPS, CUHK

Dr Ben Y. F. Fong
Director, Centre for Ageing and Healthcare Management Research,
College of Professional and Continuing Education,
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Co-Organizers

Centre for Ageing and Healthcare Management Research (CAHMR), The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Hong Kong College of Community Health Practitioners
Policy Research @ HKIAPS, CUHK

The Policy Forum on Building a Sustainable Healthcare System for Hong Kong was held at the Cho You Conference Hall, CUHK, from 28 to 29 July 2023. It was organized by the Hong Kong Institute of Asia-Pacific Studies (HKIAPS) and supported by the Hong Kong Polytechnic University College of Professional and Continuing Education, the Centre for Ageing and Healthcare Management Research, and the Hong Kong College of Community Health Practitioners. The forum brought together domestic and international academics and politicians to discuss how to build a sustainable healthcare system for Hong Kong from the aspects of sustainability, crisis management, capacity building in primary healthcare, and financial sustainability.

Prof. Rocky Tuan, Vice Chancellor and President of the CUHK, and Dr Libby Lee, Undersecretary for Health of the HKSAR Government delivered the opening speeches.

The two-day forum consisted of three keynote speeches and four panel sessions. During his keynote speech, Dr Hon David T. Y. Lam highlighted three critical elements of sustainable healthcare, namely, talent, facilities, and financing. Dr Lam suggested that the approach of relying on a stable workforce may have to change with the working mindset of a new generation. Prof. Michael Kidd focused on what issues need to be addressed when strengthening primary care to be ready to meet the current and future healthcare needs of the population. Prof. Eleanor Holroyd shared her research on how incorporating New Zealand Māori frameworks for sustainability can better address health disparities and ensure that policies are culturally responsive and inclusive, thus providing inspiration on how to implement cultural competency and community empowerment.

In the first panel session, Prof. Albert Lee analysed the role of primary healthcare based on various components of basic medical science, along with some patient cases and the challenges faced by the healthcare system in Hong Kong. Prof. Kenneth N. K. Fong highlighted the traditional approach to measuring sustainable healthcare. Dr Hon David T. Y. Lam echoed this by sharing his concerns about the role of family doctors and District Health Centres (DHC). Prof. Martin C. S. Wong suggested possible collaborations between scholars and health practitioners, Dr Vincent T. S. Law added that a multi-disciplinary team is needed to educate citizens.

In the second panel session, Dr Thomas Tsang shared his views, drawing on his profound experience with the Department of Health and Hospital Authority Board. Dr Daniel C. S. Chiu stated that what happened with COVID showed precisely that the public was unable to get the right information at the right time. Prof. Zhixiu Lin suggested solving the public health by integrating Chinese medicine and its human resources into our healthcare system. Dr William C. W. Wong anticipated that DHCs run by NGOs should be able to connect with many General Practitioners and also with different NGOs. Dr Victor Zheng shared a recent survey by the HKIAPS on the public’s view of how the COVID-19 pandemic was handled. Taking the views of the public into account is necessary for developing a better primary healthcare system.

In the third panel session, Prof. Sally Chan shared examples of specific capacity building strategies for implementing primary healthcare, such as: Strengthening primary healthcare professionals, integrating electronic health records, promoting chronic disease management, building a comprehensive mental health policy, and promoting insurance and affordability. Dr Stephen F. C. Pang was particularly concerned that medical human resources are currently close to breaking point in terms of handling the ageing population, as well as the increase in chronic diseases. Mr Jimmy Wong added that empowering the DHCs so that they will not be restricted by some guidelines or protocols from coming up with new ideas. Dr Kam-leung Chan advocated Chinese medicine as an alternative treatment option for primary healthcare in Hong Kong. Dr Joseph W. F. Leung raised the importance of pursuing digital health and enhancing digital literacy.

In the fourth panel session, Prof. Peter P. Yuen highlighted the inadequacies of the system and Government’s attempts to reform it to cope with a rapidly ageing population. He recommended integrating existing silos and introducing a “money follows patients” public resource allocation model to replace the existing block grant allocation arrangement. Prof. Albert Lee suggesed some new initiatives, such as weighing the importance of junior-level healthcare workers, non-dispensing pharmacy physician assistants, and day-to-day care in view of lacking funding. Dr Donald K. T. Li mentioned that family doctors would like to access the primary care team for support. As the Medical Superintendent of a private hospital, Dr Jonathan H. O. Wai talked about budgets in primary care, such as co-care payments, the establishment of a primary care commission, and how the public is being told details about the budget.

The two-day Policy Forum were attended by more than 250 people in-person and online.■