Editorial | Hong Kong’s new degrees provide a path for more doctors
A new four-year pathway for graduates and the proposed third medical school are effective ways to help alleviate the city’s doctor shortage
Hong Kong prides itself on a world-class health system, yet suffers from a chronic shortage of doctors, from which there is no early relief in sight.
According to recent projections there will be a shortage of 1,570 by 2030, and 1,200 by 2040.
That is not the full story. Less than half the registered doctors the city does have are to be found in the public healthcare system, which handles more than 90 per cent of inpatient services because it is so affordable and accessible.
Such an imbalance can give rise to concern about its impact on the quality of healthcare services and be reflected in queues and waiting times.
It is good news therefore that the city’s two medical schools, at the University of Hong Kong and Chinese University of Hong Kong, have been given the go ahead to launch new graduate-entry, four-year medical degree programmes.
These are in addition to their normal annual student intakes for six-year degrees. They will begin modestly in September with the first 50 honours graduates from other courses. Hopefully that number will soon grow, but it is also about more than numbers.