More younger non-local doctors will be to Hong Kong’s benefit
It is good that the government seeks to further relax rules to attract more doctors. High standards of practice also ought to be maintained
The 2021 amendment allows non-local doctors to practise in the public health system for five years before being eligible for full registration, but non-permanent residents applying for the pathway must have already obtained specialist qualifications. The government seeks to ease this requirement.
Among the medical profession and the community, an abiding concern with such reforms is that standards of practice are preserved and upheld, and rightly so. In an exclusive interview with the SCMP, Secretary for Health Lo Chung-mau made out the case for further relaxation of the registration pathway, saying the existing restriction hindered talent recruitment. While it was difficult to attract specialists already settled into careers and family life abroad, recruitment data showed there were many young, high-quality doctors who had not yet attained specialist qualifications from abroad. “If we can recruit them early, they can integrate into our system sooner and make a faster contribution,” Lo said.
He did not agree that removing the restriction would threaten opportunities for local doctors. He said Hong Kong limited non-local doctors to the Hospital Authority, health department or universities.
The reality is that among local medical graduates, the most sought-after specialties are radiology, ophthalmology, anaesthesiology and dermatology, with some specialties failing to attract any applications. Lo said the government must consider the public’s needs. “We cannot leave certain positions vacant,” he said.
He cited Singapore and the United Kingdom, saying both had imported more than 30 per cent of their doctors. “I’m not saying this is our target,” he said, but added that Hong Kong was lagging in importing non-local medical talent.