Hong Kong likely to recognise ‘at least 4 mainland China medical schools’ in scheme allowing non-locally trained doctors to work in city without licensing exam

At least four medical schools in mainland China are likely to be recognised by a special scheme under which graduates can be fully registered to practise in Hong Kong without taking a licensing exam, the Post has learned.

A government source on Thursday said the Hong Kong Council for Accreditation of Academic and Vocational Qualifications, which was involved in helping to determine the list of qualified schools, would need more time to do the assessment.

“They will look into the curriculum, duration and content of clinical placement, medium of instruction, graduates, world ranking and so on,” the insider said, referring to the council.

The government hopes that offering the new pathway for non-locally trained doctors to work in Hong Kong will help ease a dire manpower shortage in the public sector, which is predicted to only worsen in the coming years.

The government on Wednesday announced the first 27 medical schools recognised under the scheme, located in Australia, Canada, Singapore, Britain and the United States.

No mainland universities were included, but the government source said at least four medical schools from over the border should meet the requirements and be included in the next announcement, which could come as early as June, and another one expected by the end of the year. Another notable university missing from the list was Harvard, widely considered the best in the world.

Authorities earlier said about 100 medical schools were expected to be eligible globally.

Pro-establishment lawmakers expressed disappointment over the school selection, which takes effect on Friday, saying some mainland medical institutions were reputable enough to be included.