https://www.scmp.com/rss/524436/feed The latest news and updates on Lo Chung-mau, a distinguished Hong Kong surgeon and government official. Known for his pioneering work in adult right lobe living donor liver transplantation, which revolutionised global practice, he previously served as Hospital Chief Executive at The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital and held prominent roles in hepatobiliary surgery and liver transplantation at Queen Mary Hospital and The University of Hong Kong. Appointed in July 2022, his current... en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Ng Kang-chung Ng Kang-chung Hong Kong is committed to helping mainland China’s medical and health standards “go global”, with a local minister hailing the city’s first time hosting a national medical conference as an event of “great significance”. Secretary for Health Lo Chung-mau also said Hong Kong was striving to meet the mainland’s certification requirements for a local stroke centre, following the accreditation of a heart disease treatment facility under national standards last year. Lo officiated at the opening of... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3348963/hong-kong-committed-helping-mainland-chinas-health-standards-go-global?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3348963/hong-kong-committed-helping-mainland-chinas-health-standards-go-global?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 03 Apr 2026 09:31:23 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Self-regulation by a profession serving the public is fine, so long as it truly serves the public interest in practice. Otherwise it risks undermining public confidence. A case in point is the Medical Council of Hong Kong’s handling of public complaints. The Ombudsman has criticised its lengthy process, highlighting 11 cases that remained unresolved after more than a decade. The council is mostly made up of doctors. One case that caused a public outcry, an alleged medical blunder that left a boy... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3346870/medical-council-reform-must-prioritise-public-interest?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3346870/medical-council-reform-must-prioritise-public-interest?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 17 Mar 2026 22:45:08 +0000 Emily Hung Emily Hung Hong Kong authorities have proposed replacing Medical Council members who underperform rather than punishing them as part of an overhaul following a public outcry over a 15-year delay in an alleged medical blunder inquiry. Secretary for Health Lo Chung-mau also said on Sunday the government had no plans to impose rigid deadlines for each stage of complaint handling by the quasi-judicial body, saying the requirement was “asking the impossible” and the council would “be required to” set time... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3346661/hong-kong-replace-not-punish-underperforming-medical-council-members?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3346661/hong-kong-replace-not-punish-underperforming-medical-council-members?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 15 Mar 2026 10:35:44 +0000 Ambrose Li,William Yiu Ambrose Li,William Yiu Hong Kong’s physiotherapy sector has urged the government to expand employment opportunities for locally trained professionals, warning that severe funding cuts will lead to a glut of practitioners, with the surplus projected to exceed 2,000 by 2040. In a letter to the authorities, the Hong Kong Physiotherapy Association pointed to hiring freezes and job losses at NGOs as a result of budget cuts, even as the government continued to subsidise the training of physiotherapists. “These developments... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3346549/funding-cuts-trigger-calls-help-jobs-hong-kongs-physiotherapists?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3346549/funding-cuts-trigger-calls-help-jobs-hong-kongs-physiotherapists?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 13 Mar 2026 13:20:07 +0000 Julie Zhang Julie Zhang When an ibuprofen dance challenge went viral on the Chinese social media platform Douyin in late 2022 during the Covid-19 pandemic, shares of the country’s leading ibuprofen maker surged more than 200 per cent in two weeks. Now profits at Shandong Xinhua Pharmaceutical are plunging, and it is not alone, as drug makers are hit by oversupply and weakening demand. The net profit at Shandong Xinhua, a leading manufacturer and exporter of fever and pain medicines, including ibuprofen, fell 26 per... https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3344097/viral-dance-challenge-lifted-chinese-ibuprofen-makers-shares-now-they-are-languishing?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3344097/viral-dance-challenge-lifted-chinese-ibuprofen-makers-shares-now-they-are-languishing?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 22 Feb 2026 06:00:13 +0000 Emily Hung Emily Hung Hong Kong authorities have proposed requiring the Medical Council to set a time frame for handling complaints, following a public backlash over a 15-year delay to an inquiry into an alleged medical blunder that left a child permanently disabled. The Health Bureau on Friday also proposed reforming the composition of the watchdog, bringing in doctors with more diverse backgrounds and qualifications, and increasing the proportion of lay members, who only accounted for eight of the 32-strong... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3342725/medical-council-set-time-frame-sorting-complaints-under-proposed-shake?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3342725/medical-council-set-time-frame-sorting-complaints-under-proposed-shake?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Feb 2026 14:46:46 +0000 Fiona Sun Fiona Sun Hong Kong’s ombudsman has found that the Medical Council’s complaint-handling processes are excessively lengthy and plagued by a persistent backlog of cases, urging the watchdog and authorities to hasten procedures to uphold public confidence. The Office of the Ombudsman on Thursday released its investigation findings into the effectiveness of administrative support provided by the secretariat under the Department of Health for the council’s complaint handling and the government’s regulatory... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3342547/hong-kong-ombudsman-slams-medical-councils-excessively-long-complaints-system?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3342547/hong-kong-ombudsman-slams-medical-councils-excessively-long-complaints-system?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 05 Feb 2026 12:19:15 +0000 Leopold Chen,Fiona Sun Leopold Chen,Fiona Sun Hong Kong’s health minister is seeking to amend legislation to reform and speed up the complaint system of a medical watchdog, but has warned against “arbitrarily” adding more non-professionals to the body. Lo Chung-mau said on Saturday that the Health Bureau would table an amendment to the Medical Registration Ordinance at a meeting of the Legislative Council’s health services panel in February, with the aim of implementing the new measures in April. The amendment would review the Medical... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3341933/hong-kong-health-chief-seeks-speed-medical-councils-complaint-handling?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3341933/hong-kong-health-chief-seeks-speed-medical-councils-complaint-handling?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 31 Jan 2026 06:38:21 +0000 Fiona Sun Fiona Sun More than 110,000 patients have secured fee waivers since Hong Kong’s public medical fee reform took effect at the start of the year, a jump from a previous annual number of 14,000, the health minister has said while defending the overhaul. Secretary for Health Lo Chung-mau also said on Friday that among the more than 110,000 people with approved waivers, about 53,000 had already received certificates for fee reduction. The roughly 60,000 patients remaining who had failed to provide income and... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3341856/over-110000-secure-waivers-within-1-month-after-hong-kong-public-medical-fee-reform?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3341856/over-110000-secure-waivers-within-1-month-after-hong-kong-public-medical-fee-reform?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 30 Jan 2026 10:43:59 +0000 Harvey Kong Harvey Kong Hong Kong’s health minister has revealed that the number of less urgent patients seeking treatment at public hospital accident and emergency (A&E) departments has dropped by 24 per cent in the first 10 days of a new pricing regime. Secretary for Health Lo Chung-mau also said in a television interview on Saturday that authorities had so far approved 60,000 people for fee waivers, with about 80 per cent processed on the same day of application. Under a public hospital fee overhaul implemented on... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3340266/hong-kong-public-hospital-pricing-reform-slashes-less-urgent-ae-visits-24?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3340266/hong-kong-public-hospital-pricing-reform-slashes-less-urgent-ae-visits-24?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 17 Jan 2026 11:48:15 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Ancient advice about digging a well before one is thirsty was heeded in Hong Kong this month as major steps were taken to help Chinese medicine go global. The proverb, often cited to encourage preventive medicine, was just as apt for the city’s unveiling of a new blueprint to develop Chinese medicine and opening of its first such hospital. The “Chinese Medicine Development Blueprint” unveiled on Thursday aims to leverage the city’s strengths to set international standards and raise professional... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3337054/hong-kong-well-set-raise-global-bar-chinese-medicine?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3337054/hong-kong-well-set-raise-global-bar-chinese-medicine?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 19 Dec 2025 23:15:12 +0000 Emily Hung,Fiona Sun Emily Hung,Fiona Sun Hong Kong has unveiled its first blueprint to help Chinese medicine go global by leveraging the city’s strengths to set international standards for the medicinal products and raise professional competence. In the “Chinese Medicine Development Blueprint” unveiled on Thursday, health authorities also pledged to amend the Chinese Medicine Ordinance to close “grey areas” that allowed products to bypass safety checks – part of the five key areas and eight goals outlined in the plan. Secretary for... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3336880/hong-kong-unveils-its-first-blueprint-develop-chinese-medicine-sector?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3336880/hong-kong-unveils-its-first-blueprint-develop-chinese-medicine-sector?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 18 Dec 2025 07:03:18 +0000 Elizabeth Cheung,Emily Hung Elizabeth Cheung,Emily Hung Hong Kong’s first Chinese medicine hospital has opened its doors to patients, with subsidised general outpatient services for the first month fully booked, prompting the facility to add extra slots to meet demand. The Chinese Medicine Hospital of Hong Kong, located in Tseung Kwan O, aims to provide services for more complex cases under a model that features Chinese medicine as the primary approach, integrated with Western medicine. “We hope to bring the development of Chinese medicine in Hong... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3336003/hong-kongs-first-chinese-medicine-hospital-opens-first-month-quotas-fully-booked?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3336003/hong-kongs-first-chinese-medicine-hospital-opens-first-month-quotas-fully-booked?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 11 Dec 2025 04:27:29 +0000 Denise Tsang,Harvey Kong,Jess Ma Denise Tsang,Harvey Kong,Jess Ma Hong Kong authorities will make mental health support for people affected by the Tai Po blaze a priority in the aftermath of the tragedy, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu has announced, as the government said it intended to push for a blanket ban on smoking at construction sites. Speaking at a press conference on Friday, Lee said that not only the residents of Wang Fuk Court, but the entire community could move out of deep sorrow with proper mental health support. “Everyone is experiencing this... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3335385/hong-kong-vows-step-mental-health-support-tai-po-fire-survivors?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3335385/hong-kong-vows-step-mental-health-support-tai-po-fire-survivors?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 05 Dec 2025 11:42:05 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial A major overhaul of public hospital fees comes into effect in the new year. If it achieves its goal, it will improve public health services while reducing the government’s healthcare subsidy from 97 per cent to 90 per cent over five years. Those are worthy targets. But to achieve them, some charges are bound to rise. Rightly, the reform has attracted close scrutiny. It is important that it strikes a balance between social fairness and value for spending on public health. Diagnostic radiology has... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3334536/hospital-fee-reform-must-balance-social-fairness-budgetary-needs?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3334536/hospital-fee-reform-must-balance-social-fairness-budgetary-needs?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 30 Nov 2025 22:45:15 +0000 Fiona Sun Fiona Sun Hong Kong’s embattled Medical Council has overturned its earlier ruling to terminate an inquiry, delayed for 15 years, into a paediatrician accused of a blunder that left a boy permanently disabled. The council decided on Saturday to revoke its ruling made on October 28 to permanently stay the proceedings of the disciplinary inquiry into Dr Sit Sou-chi. Council chairwoman Grace Tang Wai-king announced the decision at the end of the 4½-hour review. “After we made an order ... [last month] ... for... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3333796/hong-kong-medical-council-overturns-decision-end-inquiry-alleged-blunder?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3333796/hong-kong-medical-council-overturns-decision-end-inquiry-alleged-blunder?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 22 Nov 2025 10:51:48 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial The arguments for Hong Kong having a third medical school – from a shortage of doctors to the importance of education and research to the city’s future as a hub and superconnector – left no real alternative. The challenge for a third school, according to Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu in his policy address last year, is “innovative strategic positioning” that complements the schools run by the University of Hong Kong and the Chinese University of Hong Kong. Hong Kong University of Science and... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3333362/hkust-medical-school-can-make-difference-population-ages?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3333362/hkust-medical-school-can-make-difference-population-ages?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 19 Nov 2025 22:45:08 +0000 Elizabeth Cheung Elizabeth Cheung A Hong Kong university establishing the city’s third medical school has pledged to commit more than HK$7 billion (US$899 million) to the project and has already recruited six clinical professors, including a former head of an Australian institution. Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) on Wednesday provided further details of its development plan, a day after the government revealed that the institution had been chosen to run the new medical school for its clear strategic... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3333386/hkust-pledges-invest-more-hk7-billion-third-medical-school-project?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3333386/hkust-pledges-invest-more-hk7-billion-third-medical-school-project?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 19 Nov 2025 07:32:55 +0000 Elizabeth Cheung,Edith Lin,Leopold Chen Elizabeth Cheung,Edith Lin,Leopold Chen The new medical school set to be run by Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) should ride on the institution’s unique technological strengths and expand its capacity in clinical research to become a leading institution, experts and lawmakers have said. Their comments followed the government’s announcement on Tuesday that HKUST had emerged as the top choice to operate the city’s third medical school, taking its place alongside the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) and the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3333324/what-experts-say-hong-kongs-new-medical-school-must-do-succeed?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3333324/what-experts-say-hong-kongs-new-medical-school-must-do-succeed?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 19 Nov 2025 00:45:43 +0000 Elizabeth Cheung,Olga Wong Elizabeth Cheung,Olga Wong The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) has won the bid to run the city’s third medical school, with officials saying the institution stood out by presenting a clear strategic position and financial plan, among other factors. The eight-month race officially ended on Tuesday, when the government announced that HKUST had been recommended by the Task Group on the New Medical School after it assessed proposals submitted in March by the institution, Baptist University, and... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3333198/hkust-operate-hong-kongs-third-medical-school-after-8-month-race-source?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3333198/hkust-operate-hong-kongs-third-medical-school-after-8-month-race-source?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 18 Nov 2025 04:20:19 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial If officials are going to backtrack on an unpopular decision, the sooner the better to limit political damage. A case in point is the contentious proposal to introduce mortuary fees at Hong Kong public hospitals, where storage of bodies until they are collected for cremation or burial has been free. News of the new charge soon became controversial. That was predictable. Given the time taken to complete necessary after-death processes in Hong Kong, the cost of storage could have quickly run into... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3332487/revision-hong-kong-mortuary-fee-plan-shows-alertness-public-sentiment?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3332487/revision-hong-kong-mortuary-fee-plan-shows-alertness-public-sentiment?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 12 Nov 2025 22:45:08 +0000 Letters Letters The Medical Council of Hong Kong, responsible for doctors’ self-regulation and discipline, has long faced criticism for delays and protecting professional interests over patients’ rights. The recent case that left a child disabled for life, in which the Medical Council took 15 years to dismiss a complaint with no explanation, has exposed glaring flaws in its disciplinary process. Public confidence has been shaken not only by the delay, but also by the unexplained decision to dismiss the case.... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3332178/hong-kong-must-overhaul-its-medical-council-shore-public-trust?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3332178/hong-kong-must-overhaul-its-medical-council-shore-public-trust?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 11 Nov 2025 03:30:09 +0000 Ambrose Li,Oscar Liu Ambrose Li,Oscar Liu A three-day exemption from new mortuary charges effective next year at Hong Kong public hospitals will be extended to four weeks, the government has said, after the move to end free storage of bodies sparked controversy. Health authorities announced the policy update on Saturday, stressing that they anticipated fees would be required for fewer than 10 per cent of bodies after the new charging scheme was introduced on January 1 next year. “We considered public opinion and stakeholder feedback and... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3332018/hong-kong-authorities-extend-3-day-waiver-new-hospital-mortuary-fees-4-weeks?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3332018/hong-kong-authorities-extend-3-day-waiver-new-hospital-mortuary-fees-4-weeks?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 08 Nov 2025 02:37:22 +0000 Elizabeth Cheung Elizabeth Cheung Hong Kong’s Department of Health is under mounting pressure to explain its role in a 15-year delay in the handling of a complaint involving an alleged blunder that left a child disabled for life. Calls for answers intensified on Wednesday as the city’s ombudsman announced the launch of an investigation into the procedures and mechanisms employed by the secretariat under the department’s Boards and Councils Office in handling complaints related to alleged blunders and registration of... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3331598/hong-kongs-handling-medical-complaints-probed-after-15-year-case-delay?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3331598/hong-kongs-handling-medical-complaints-probed-after-15-year-case-delay?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 05 Nov 2025 07:10:02 +0000 Fiona Sun,Emily Hung Fiona Sun,Emily Hung Hong Kong’s health minister has proposed an overhaul of the city’s medical watchdog to enhance its efficiency. This followed the Medical Council’s termination of an inquiry into a doctor accused of a blunder that left a child disabled for life, while statistics showed more than 60 per cent of patient complaints took over two years to resolve, with 162 exceeding four years. Secretary for Health Lo Chung-mau said on Tuesday that the government would look into the composition, legal functions and... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3331519/hong-kong-health-chief-eyes-medical-council-overhaul-after-botched-inquiry?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3331519/hong-kong-health-chief-eyes-medical-council-overhaul-after-botched-inquiry?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 04 Nov 2025 12:43:23 +0000 Lo Hoi-ying Lo Hoi-ying Hong Kong’s Medical Council will look into its decision to terminate an inquiry into a paediatrician accused of a medical blunder that left a child with cerebral palsy and quadriplegia, after the city’s health chief ordered a review of its disciplinary mechanism. The council on Monday said it would review the decision it made last week to order a stay of proceedings against paediatrician Sit Sou-chi, who was accused of a medical blunder in Baptist Hospital on December 22, 2009. The decision was... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3331387/hong-kongs-medical-council-review-termination-paediatric-blunder-inquiry?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3331387/hong-kongs-medical-council-review-termination-paediatric-blunder-inquiry?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 03 Nov 2025 16:03:49 +0000 Fiona Sun Fiona Sun Sixteen years ago, mainland Chinese parents Li Zhijian and Peng Hongying travelled to Hong Kong to give birth to their third child, full of hope for his future. But little did they know their decision would turn into a nightmare for the family and ruin their son’s life – something Li said he still regretted to this day. “Originally, we planned that after giving birth to Yuanjian, we could live in Shenzhen and take him to Hong Kong for school every day like other children for the city’s better... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3331213/ruined-his-life-15-year-fight-justice-after-sons-hong-kong-hospital-ordeal?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3331213/ruined-his-life-15-year-fight-justice-after-sons-hong-kong-hospital-ordeal?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 02 Nov 2025 08:00:17 +0000 Edith Lin Edith Lin Hong Kong health authorities have ordered a review of the city’s Medical Council after it terminated an inquiry into a paediatrician due to a prolonged procedural delay of 8½ years, as the regulatory body promised to respond within eight weeks. The move by the government came on Thursday, a day after the Patients’ Rights Association argued that the council’s ruling – the first involving a suspected medical blunder – could allow doctors to evade responsibility in future cases. The government said... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3330965/hong-kong-probes-medical-council-after-paediatric-inquiry-axed-over-8-year-delay?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3330965/hong-kong-probes-medical-council-after-paediatric-inquiry-axed-over-8-year-delay?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 30 Oct 2025 15:37:12 +0000 Lo Hoi-ying,Emily Hung Lo Hoi-ying,Emily Hung Hong Kong schools have reported a more than sixfold surge in influenza outbreaks since the start of the academic year compared with the winter flu season earlier this year, with 13 children hospitalised since September. The government renewed its calls on Wednesday for children to receive flu jabs after another three severe paediatric cases were reported on consecutive days. The Centre for Health Protection said the latest severe case involved an 11-year-old girl who had previously been in good... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3329899/12-hong-kong-children-intensive-care-flu-prompt-urgent-vaccination-calls?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3329899/12-hong-kong-children-intensive-care-flu-prompt-urgent-vaccination-calls?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 22 Oct 2025 06:27:56 +0000 Lam Ka-sing Lam Ka-sing Hong Kong is set to deploy AI to detect early signs of lung cancer among residents and plans to create a new government office to proactively fast-track approval for innovative treatments from around the globe, the health minister has said. The move signals a major strategic shift by authorities towards new technologies and an aggressive intervention against various forms of cancer, which accounts for one in every four deaths in the city. Secretary for Health Lo Chung-mau also said on Sunday... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3327134/hong-kong-get-tough-lung-cancer-new-ai-screening-tools-minister?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3327134/hong-kong-get-tough-lung-cancer-new-ai-screening-tools-minister?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 28 Sep 2025 07:07:23 +0000 Vivian Au Vivian Au The three universities in Hong Kong applying to set up the city’s third medical school have “very different” financial proposals, the health minister has said, adding authorities are studying how sustainable these plans are. Secretary for Health Lo Chung-mau also said on Friday that a dedicated task group had already studied the proposals submitted by the three universities, including the curriculum as well as staff and student recruitment plans, with capital requirements and financial... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3326951/hong-kong-studying-financial-proposals-citys-third-medical-school-minister?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3326951/hong-kong-studying-financial-proposals-citys-third-medical-school-minister?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 26 Sep 2025 06:53:06 +0000 Elizabeth Cheung,Emily Hung Elizabeth Cheung,Emily Hung Hong Kong health authorities aim to introduce a fast-track approval mechanism for life-saving drugs that can treat severe or rare diseases, a move that could reduce the current system’s processing time by one-third. Secretary for Health Lo Chung-mau said on Thursday that the fast-track arrangement could help to respond to health emergencies such as a pandemic where infections spread quickly. The minister was elaborating on health measures outlined in the latest policy address a day earlier. “The... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3326039/hong-kong-authorities-eye-fast-track-approval-option-life-saving-drugs?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3326039/hong-kong-authorities-eye-fast-track-approval-option-life-saving-drugs?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 18 Sep 2025 14:53:10 +0000 Vivian Au Vivian Au Hong Kong health authorities have brushed off concerns about a government-subsidised flu vaccine that lacks clinical trial data on pregnant women, saying doctors will assess this group before any injections. Secretary for Health Lo Chung-mau urged the public on Monday to get the flu vaccine, just days after worries surfaced over the mainland-China produced Sinovac influenza jab being one of four offerings in the government’s vaccination programmes starting later this month. Authorities have... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3325626/hong-kong-authorities-brush-concerns-over-flu-vaccine-pregnant-women?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3325626/hong-kong-authorities-brush-concerns-over-flu-vaccine-pregnant-women?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 15 Sep 2025 12:32:28 +0000 Elizabeth Cheung Elizabeth Cheung Hong Kong lawmakers have passed a controversial tobacco control bill that aims to further lower the city’s smoking rate, with the health minister saying the proposed measures have already considered a variety of opinions. The Tobacco Control Legislation (Amendment) Bill was passed on Thursday after the second and third readings, following a last-ditch effort by two lawmakers to delay and amend the government-proposed measures earlier this week. The bill was supported by 74 lawmakers, one opposed... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3325210/hong-kong-lawmakers-pass-controversial-tobacco-control-bill-cut-smoking-rate?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3325210/hong-kong-lawmakers-pass-controversial-tobacco-control-bill-cut-smoking-rate?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 11 Sep 2025 10:20:29 +0000 Leopold Chen Leopold Chen Hong Kong’s first traditional Chinese medicine hospital will start operating in December, with the city’s health chief expecting it to play a central role in the industry’s development regionally and nationally. Secretary for Health Lo Chung-mau also said on Tuesday that he hoped the Chinese Medicine Hospital of Hong Kong would be a “bridgehead” for the sector’s march overseas. The University of Hong Kong, the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) and Baptist University signed collaborative... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3324950/hong-kongs-first-traditional-chinese-medicine-hospital-set-open-december?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3324950/hong-kongs-first-traditional-chinese-medicine-hospital-set-open-december?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 09 Sep 2025 16:38:32 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Online medical consultations expanded during the pandemic, especially for the elderly. Like with online classes and working from home, they helped to limit exposure to the coronavirus in the community. But the telehealth market remains in its early stages. The Consumer Council recently reviewed Hong Kong’s telehealth services in a survey that included 840 consumers, 833 Western and Chinese medical practitioners, and 14 business providers. The exercise is timely. An ageing population, more people... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3323673/hong-kongs-telehealth-market-must-put-patient-welfare-front-and-centre?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3323673/hong-kongs-telehealth-market-must-put-patient-welfare-front-and-centre?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 29 Aug 2025 23:15:10 +0000 Sammy Heung,Connor Mycroft Sammy Heung,Connor Mycroft Hong Kong is allowing doctors to hold positions at both public hospitals and the city’s two medical schools under a new “dual-track” pathway that the government has called a “breakthrough” in recruiting clinical, education and research talent from both local and overseas. The Health Bureau said on Monday that the mechanism provided a a development pathway that was “more fitting”, “certain” and “clearer” for talent to engage in medical, teaching and research work compared with previous... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3319827/hong-kong-doctors-get-go-ahead-hold-hospital-medical-school-jobs-same-time?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3319827/hong-kong-doctors-get-go-ahead-hold-hospital-medical-school-jobs-same-time?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 28 Jul 2025 07:55:43 +0000 Fiona Sun Fiona Sun As many as one-third of about 50 students to be admitted initially to Hong Kong’s third medical school will be non-local, the city’s health minister has said, adding that a proposal on its establishment will be submitted to the chief executive before his coming policy address. Secretary for Health Lo Chung-mau said on Saturday that the new medical school was expected to be developed without vicious competition in terms of faculty and student sources with the two existing ones. He said the school... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3319695/third-intake-new-hong-kong-medical-school-be-non-local-students?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3319695/third-intake-new-hong-kong-medical-school-be-non-local-students?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 26 Jul 2025 09:52:39 +0000