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SCMP Reporter

The mainland will draw on Hong Kong's system of registration for medical specialists in a bid to boost its  health service.

Speaking in Hong Kong, Vice-Minister of Health Huang Jiefu  highlighted the need to reform China's health care system.

Citing the country's 260 hospitals offering organ transplant service, Mr Huang estimated that nearly half of the doctors in such hospitals were underqualified.

Under the memorandum of understanding signed between the Health Ministry and the Hong Kong Academy of Medicine - a statutory body to organise and assess medical specialist training - yesterday, the academy will help set up a registration system for specialists on the mainland.

A working group, with medical experts from the ministry and the academy  will be set up immediately to plan implementation of a system based on Hong Kong's experience.

Dr Huang  said the establishment of an institution would be followed by experimental units chosen by the academy, a unique statutory body in Hong Kong accrediting all medical specialist training.

'What we want to do now is to establish a specialist registration system, including training and examination like the Hong Kong Academy of Medicine,' Dr Huang said.

Dr Huang said health care was one of the four most important issues concerning Premier Wen Jiabao  and it had been pushed as part of the reform agenda.

'Specialist registration is a very important aspect of health care management and reform, because it refers directly to patients' safety, health care quality and fairness.'

He said with more than 6 million medical workers and 2.3 million doctors on the mainland, it was difficult to build a system up to international standards.

Dr Huang said the mainland would benefit from the academy's years of experience.

Academy president  Grace Tang Wai-king  said they were willing to contribute  by sharing professional knowledge.

'The specialist system  in Hong Kong may not be totally applicable for the mainland, but we are glad  our experience can be offered as reference,' Professor Tang said.

Dr Huang also praised what the Hong Kong government had done in the fight against bird flu.

'Bird flu is the common challenge for the mainland and Hong Kong in public health. It is wise to prepare,  but not necessary to plunge into social panic and wear masks at every moment,' he said.

'The Hong Kong government has made many correct decisions in preventing bird flu, including banning backyard poultry. Hong Kong is safe and I ate chicken meat yesterday.'



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Mainland to use HK's medical specialist system as a blueprint