https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/rss/325289/feed Latest news and updates on healthcare and hospitals in Hong Kong, including medical issues, the impact of the city's ageing population, coronavirus pandemic and seasonal influenza outbreaks on the health system. en https://assets-v2.i-scmp.com/production/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg Edith Lin Edith Lin The death of veteran Hong Kong stock market commentator Louie Shum Chun-ying has drawn public attention to heart disease, after a police source revealed he had a history of the condition as well as diabetes. Heart disease was one of the leading causes of death in Hong Kong, with more than 6,500 fatalities recorded in 2024, according to the Department of Health. While residents at risk should monitor their health and seek timely medical care, a local cardiologist stressed that bystanders could... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3372082/louie-shums-death-heart-disease-hong-kong-and-what-do-emergency https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3372082/louie-shums-death-heart-disease-hong-kong-and-what-do-emergency Sun, 25 Oct 2026 12:50:34 +0000 Fiona Sun Fiona Sun In the second of a four-part Health Matters wellness series on frontier medicine in Hong Kong, Fiona Sun looks into how a new PCR system can detect cancer, infections and birth defects within hours, and what it will take to bring such laboratory breakthroughs to patients. Part one can be found here. It began with a pimple-like lump on Audrey Kwan’s neck. Within a month, it had swollen to the size of a table tennis ball. But it took blood tests, a biopsy and CAT scans before the Hongkonger, then... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3372012/really-terrified-how-blood-test-could-spare-cancer-patients-agonising-wait https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3372012/really-terrified-how-blood-test-could-spare-cancer-patients-agonising-wait Sun, 25 Oct 2026 11:00:31 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Tragedies involving vulnerable elderly people continue to make headlines in Hong Kong. Sadly, in a rapidly ageing society where many live alone or with an elderly partner, this seems unlikely to change any time soon. There is an urgent need to close gaps in support services. The authorities have initiated several measures, including a plan to import trained domestic carers, but that is only a start on addressing a growing problem. About a week ago, a man, 72, and his 69-year-old partner died in... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/comment/article/3371933/hong-kong-must-urgently-tackle-its-elderly-isolation-problem https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/comment/article/3371933/hong-kong-must-urgently-tackle-its-elderly-isolation-problem Sat, 24 Oct 2026 23:15:12 +0000 Ambrose Li Ambrose Li A senior Hong Kong health official has warned of a higher risk of influenza infection as vaccination rates fall and the city’s summer flu season stretches on, following the death of a second unvaccinated child from the virus. Centre for Health Protection controller Dr Edwin Tsui Lok-kin issued the warning as Hong Kong’s current flu season, which began in June, showed no sign of easing. He said authorities were monitoring possible changes in how the virus spreads after two consecutive summer flu... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3371754/falling-child-vaccination-rates-raise-concern-hong-kong-flu-deaths-rise https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3371754/falling-child-vaccination-rates-raise-concern-hong-kong-flu-deaths-rise Thu, 22 Oct 2026 06:15:03 +0000 Emily Hung Emily Hung A growing interest among Hong Kong women in an anti-ageing injection containing human tissue has prompted a recent crackdown by health authorities, as the product, widely known in Chinese as the “cadaver skin jab”, has not been registered for use in the city. The South China Morning Post examines why the injection has become a new beauty trend, what it claims to do and the risks involved. 1. What is a ‘cadaver skin jab’? The “cadaver skin jab” refers to Elravie Re2O, a cadaver-derived skin... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3371748/what-cadaver-skin-jab-beauty-trend-and-does-it-really-work https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3371748/what-cadaver-skin-jab-beauty-trend-and-does-it-really-work Thu, 22 Oct 2026 05:31:45 +0000 Elizabeth Cheung Elizabeth Cheung Experts have warned of the infection risks associated with an anti-ageing beauty treatment known as “cadaver-derived skin injection” amid growing interest in the treatment, as authorities crack down on beauty premises offering services with unregistered products. The warnings came a day after the Department of Health revealed it had seized vials of an injectable product called Elravie Re20, which claims to contain human tissue, following raids on four beauty premises in the city on Friday and... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3371673/health-warning-over-beauty-jabs-using-dead-peoples-skin-following-hong-kong-raids https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3371673/health-warning-over-beauty-jabs-using-dead-peoples-skin-following-hong-kong-raids Thu, 22 Oct 2026 00:30:05 +0000 Simpson Cheung Simpson Cheung A 12-year-old unvaccinated girl has become the second child to die after suffering from influenza A since the current flu season began in Hong Kong in late June, the Centre for Health Protection has said. Centre controller Edwin Tsui Lok-kin said on Wednesday that local influenza activity remained at a high level. “I urge the public not to take influenza lightly, and to take appropriate preventive measures, including receiving [a vaccination] as early as possible in order to build an immunity... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3371684/unvaccinated-girl-12-becomes-hong-kongs-second-child-flu-death-season https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3371684/unvaccinated-girl-12-becomes-hong-kongs-second-child-flu-death-season Wed, 21 Oct 2026 14:24:27 +0000 Emily Hung Emily Hung A high-profile disciplinary hearing for a doctor accused of leaving a girl in a vegetative state six years ago has been adjourned pending a coroner’s inquest, a decision the girl’s father learned of just a week before proceedings were due to begin. The Medical Council informed Eddie Chau, father of Chau Tin-yu, on Tuesday night that the hearing, originally scheduled to start on October 27, would be postponed until after the inquest. The decision leaves both proceedings in limbo. Just last month,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3371615/how-much-longer-chau-tin-yus-father-hits-out-last-minute-delay-doctors-hearing https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3371615/how-much-longer-chau-tin-yus-father-hits-out-last-minute-delay-doctors-hearing Wed, 21 Oct 2026 07:00:19 +0000 https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/series/3371340/can-hong-kong-become-new-centre-frontier-medicine https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/series/3371340/can-hong-kong-become-new-centre-frontier-medicine Mon, 19 Oct 2026 03:35:00 +0000 Elizabeth Cheung Elizabeth Cheung In the first of a four-part Health Matters wellness series on frontier medicine in Hong Kong, Elizabeth Cheung looks into how the city can turn world-class research into real-world treatments and what it needs to become a global biomedical innovation hub. Raymond Tong Kai-yu spent a decade overcoming challenges in cost and production to develop a device that could change lives: a robotic hand that helps stroke patients regain mobility and relearn everyday movements. The Hong Kong biomedical... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3371262/hong-kong-excels-medical-research-so-what-holding-it-back https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3371262/hong-kong-excels-medical-research-so-what-holding-it-back Sun, 18 Oct 2026 11:00:08 +0000 Emily Hung Emily Hung Water pipe smoking will contribute to about 1 million new lung cancer cases globally by 2050, with the Western Pacific region bearing the brunt, according to a study led by a World Health Organization (WHO) research agency that was recently presented in Hong Kong. The study, which is yet to be published, was headed by Dr Mahdi Sheikh, a scientist of the early detection, prevention and infections branch at the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). It estimated that there would be 82... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3371189/shisha-smoking-will-cause-1-million-new-lung-cancer-cases-globally-2050-who-study https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3371189/shisha-smoking-will-cause-1-million-new-lung-cancer-cases-globally-2050-who-study Sat, 17 Oct 2026 09:00:06 +0000 Elizabeth Cheung Elizabeth Cheung Private hospitals and clinics have thrown their support behind proposed Hong Kong government measures that will make their pricing more transparent, such as publishing annual billing statistics, despite potentially higher operating costs. Healthcare providers said on Friday that the latest proposed measures, which could start with private hospitals from August next year at the earliest, were “feasible” and “reasonable”. Details were set out in a document submitted by the Health Bureau to the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3371134/hong-kong-private-healthcare-providers-face-new-rules-make-fees-more-transparent https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3371134/hong-kong-private-healthcare-providers-face-new-rules-make-fees-more-transparent Fri, 16 Oct 2026 07:35:40 +0000 Jeffie Lam Jeffie Lam Hong Kong’s Hospital Authority has appealed to the public for a liver donation for a 13-year-old boy suffering from severe liver failure who urgently needs a transplant. The authority, which is also seeking help from mainland China, said on Thursday evening that the boy, being treated at Queen Mary Hospital in Pok Fu Lam, was now in a serious condition. “The patient has been experiencing severe hepatic failure and developed severe complications including recurrent hyperammonemia and... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3371059/hong-kongs-hospital-authority-appeals-liver-donor-boy-13 https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3371059/hong-kongs-hospital-authority-appeals-liver-donor-boy-13 Thu, 15 Oct 2026 16:15:39 +0000 Theodora Yu Theodora Yu About 9 per cent of stroke and heart failure cases may be prevented in Hong Kong over the next decade through a government co-care scheme, according to a university projection. Launched in 2023, the Chronic Disease Co-care Scheme has enrolled more than 200,000 residents as of January. Originally a pilot scheme, it was regularised in March, with about 40 per cent of those who completed screening diagnosed with diabetes, hypertension or pre-diabetes. “The co-care scheme effectively enables... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3370615/co-care-scheme-may-help-prevent-9-stroke-heart-failure-cases-next-decade https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3370615/co-care-scheme-may-help-prevent-9-stroke-heart-failure-cases-next-decade Mon, 12 Oct 2026 10:41:50 +0000 Simpson Cheung Simpson Cheung A Beijing-educated former official at the US federal drug regulator has been appointed to lead Hong Kong’s new medical products approval body, tasked with accelerating the clinical use of medicines and medical devices as part of a regulatory overhaul. Dr Li Zili, who previously worked at the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), would take up the post of controller for medical products regulation under the Department of Health on a three-year term starting on October 20, the government said on... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/article/3370593/ex-us-fda-official-lead-hong-kongs-new-medical-products-regulator https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/article/3370593/ex-us-fda-official-lead-hong-kongs-new-medical-products-regulator Mon, 12 Oct 2026 09:17:17 +0000 Chloe Loung Chloe Loung In the last instalment of a four-part Health Matters series on traditional Chinese medicine, Chloe Loung experiences the patient journey at Hong Kong’s new Chinese medicine hospital, where Western doctors and TCM practitioners work side by side to streamline holistic healthcare. There are no receptionists barking ticket numbers in chaotic waiting rooms at the new Chinese Medicine Hospital of Hong Kong. In fact, stepping into the complex’s sunlit atrium, you can barely hear a footstep. Hong... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3370262/inside-hong-kongs-chinese-medicine-hospital-where-eastern-and-western-healthcare-meet https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3370262/inside-hong-kongs-chinese-medicine-hospital-where-eastern-and-western-healthcare-meet Sun, 11 Oct 2026 11:00:08 +0000 Fiona Sun Fiona Sun Hong Kong has recorded 21 cases of mpox since August, accounting for 70 per cent of this year’s total, prompting health authorities to urge people who engage in high-risk sexual contact to take protective measures and get vaccinated to reduce their risk of infection. The latest case, involving a 29-year-old man, brought the total number recorded in Hong Kong this year to 30, comprising 23 local cases and seven imported ones, the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) said on Saturday. Twenty-one... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3370441/hong-kong-records-21-mpox-cases-august-high-risk-groups-urged-get-jabs https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3370441/hong-kong-records-21-mpox-cases-august-high-risk-groups-urged-get-jabs Sat, 10 Oct 2026 10:03:31 +0000 Letters Letters Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words. World Sight Day falls on October 8 this year. It is a timely reminder that protecting sight should be part of how we think about ageing well, not something we consider only after vision begins to fade. Hong Kong is a fast-ageing society, but vision is still too often overlooked... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/letters/article/3369970/dont-overlook-eye-health-hong-kong-ages https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/letters/article/3369970/dont-overlook-eye-health-hong-kong-ages Thu, 08 Oct 2026 03:30:08 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Hong Kong has long prided itself on the quality and coverage of its public healthcare system. But it has not opened a hospital on the scale of the new one at Kai Tak, on the old airport site, for decades. Recent stand-alone developments like the North Lantau or Tin Shui Wai hospitals are significantly smaller. It is important that the opening goes smoothly. About 350 patients on day one is an impressive start, but that is expected to reach 1,800 a day by year’s end. The opening of Kai Tak... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/comment/article/3370013/kai-tak-hospital-promises-set-new-benchmark-public-healthcare https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/comment/article/3370013/kai-tak-hospital-promises-set-new-benchmark-public-healthcare Wed, 07 Oct 2026 23:15:07 +0000 Emily Hung Emily Hung Advanced-stage cancer patients could spend half as long in hospital and avoid more than a third of unplanned admissions if a symptom-tracking mobile app is added to their routine care, according to new research from the University of Hong Kong. The SUPPORT+ mobile app, developed by HKU’s clinical oncology department, provides symptom-management information and a direct line of communication with healthcare staff. Launched in 2022 with private backing, the app has attracted 76,000 registered... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3370066/ensuring-dignified-life-how-app-keeps-advanced-cancer-patients-out-hospital https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3370066/ensuring-dignified-life-how-app-keeps-advanced-cancer-patients-out-hospital Wed, 07 Oct 2026 10:24:29 +0000 Danny Mok Danny Mok A Hong Kong fertility clinic that had most of its services suspended for mishandling embryo biopsy specimens from two patients has been cleared to fully resume all treatments after implementing improvement measures. The Council on Human Reproductive Technology said on Monday that Heal Fertility in Central could resume all 17 treatment services covered by its licence from Tuesday, after members reviewed the findings of a follow-up inspection and confirmed the clinic had properly implemented the... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3369826/hong-kong-ivf-clinic-cleared-resume-all-services-after-embryo-specimen-mix https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3369826/hong-kong-ivf-clinic-cleared-resume-all-services-after-embryo-specimen-mix Mon, 05 Oct 2026 14:07:21 +0000 Lexi Tian Lexi Tian Hong Kong’s Kai Tak Hospital launched its first phase of operations, treating about 350 patients at its family medicine centre on Monday, with the daily number projected to reach 1,800 by the end of the year. While patients welcomed the service, lawmakers called for more frequent feeder transport and better publicity about transit options. Positioned to become Hong Kong’s largest public hospital once fully operational, Kai Tak Hospital opened its family medicine integrated centre on Monday to... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3369769/kai-tak-hospital-starts-first-phase-operations-treats-300-patients-day-1 https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3369769/kai-tak-hospital-starts-first-phase-operations-treats-300-patients-day-1 Mon, 05 Oct 2026 06:38:03 +0000 Elizabeth Cheung Elizabeth Cheung Hong Kong’s largest public hospital, built on the former airport site in Kai Tak, began its first phase of operations on Monday after more than a decade of planning and preparation. The South China Morning Post looks at the hospital’s key features and what its opening means for the city’s healthcare development. 1. What makes Kai Tak Hospital special? With a gross floor area of roughly 500,000 square metres (5.38 million square feet) and 2,400 beds, Kai Tak Hospital will be Hong Kong’s largest... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3369717/kai-tak-hospital-opens-week-what-you-need-know-visiting https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3369717/kai-tak-hospital-opens-week-what-you-need-know-visiting Mon, 05 Oct 2026 03:00:10 +0000 Theodora Yu Theodora Yu Hong Kong health authorities will deploy on-site staff and step up support via a dedicated hotline for patients visiting Kai Tak Hospital amid booking and transport queries as the city’s largest public hospital begins its phased opening. From Monday, Kai Tak Hospital’s family medicine integrated centre will start operations, while specialist outpatient services and automated features in the hospital’s blood-taking services are scheduled to launch in late October. Dr Eric Cheung Fuk-chi, cluster... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3369714/site-staff-hotline-deployed-kai-tak-hospital-starts-phased-operations https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3369714/site-staff-hotline-deployed-kai-tak-hospital-starts-phased-operations Sun, 04 Oct 2026 12:19:11 +0000 Elizabeth Cheung Elizabeth Cheung Hong Kong is playing a central role as part of a broader regional hub for research breakthroughs, the head of a leading global cancer organisation has said, adding that the city’s success in reducing its smoking rate has set an example for others to follow. Cary Adams, CEO of the Union for International Cancer Control, praised the city’s tobacco control efforts as the organisation held the World Cancer Congress in Hong Kong for the first time late last month. “We’ve all become aware globally... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3369670/hong-kongs-cancer-research-drawing-global-attention-says-leading-bodys-chief https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3369670/hong-kongs-cancer-research-drawing-global-attention-says-leading-bodys-chief Sun, 04 Oct 2026 01:00:15 +0000 Matthew Cheng Matthew Cheng Hong Kong’s health minister has warned that the city will need to “bear the consequences” of exaggerating concerns over the employment prospects of nurses, as such remarks could deter new blood from joining the profession. “I do not want recent comments, such as claims that ‘[nursing] graduation equals unemployment’, to dampen the interest of our younger generation in joining the nursing profession,” Secretary for Health Lo Chung-mau said on Thursday. “Training nurses takes time, and [the number... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3369431/health-chief-warns-overstated-claims-job-shortages-could-lead-fewer-new-nurses https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3369431/health-chief-warns-overstated-claims-job-shortages-could-lead-fewer-new-nurses Thu, 01 Oct 2026 06:58:28 +0000 Lexi Tian Lexi Tian Hong Kong’s Hospital Authority has adopted artificial intelligence (AI) and robotic automation at its new support services centre to handle laundry and meal production for public hospitals, aiming to boost efficiency and worker safety. The six-storey, 62,000-square-metre centre, which houses the central laundry and food production unit, opened its doors to the press for the first time on Tuesday since beginning operations in March last year. Located in Tung Chung on Lantau Island, the facility... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/article/3369221/ai-robotic-arms-power-hong-kong-public-hospital-laundry-and-meal-centre https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/article/3369221/ai-robotic-arms-power-hong-kong-public-hospital-laundry-and-meal-centre Tue, 29 Sep 2026 11:11:13 +0000 Theodora Yu Theodora Yu Less than 0.5 per cent of registered Hong Kong nurses received their training outside the city, while 99.8 per cent of those working in public hospitals are locally trained, health authorities have said amid a growing row with a trade union over employment concerns. The latest figures were released on Tuesday after the city’s health minister repeatedly rejected claims that authorities had favoured mainland Chinese nurses over local candidates. On Saturday, the Association of Hong Kong Nursing... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3369171/05-nurses-trained-outside-hong-kong-authorities-say-amid-hiring-row https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3369171/05-nurses-trained-outside-hong-kong-authorities-say-amid-hiring-row Tue, 29 Sep 2026 07:18:58 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Cities that host major international medical conferences can expect their own healthcare sector to come under attention. As a popular venue for such “mega-events”, Hong Kong is no exception. These events are also an opportunity for the host to proclaim its achievements. Secretary for Health Lo Chung-mau did so at the World Cancer Congress, held in Hong Kong for the first time last week. Lo told delegates the city had cut its rate of cancer-related deaths by more than 40 per cent over the past... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/comment/article/3368833/hong-kongs-fight-against-cancer-must-begin-early-screening https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/comment/article/3368833/hong-kongs-fight-against-cancer-must-begin-early-screening Sat, 26 Sep 2026 23:15:10 +0000 Cannix Yau Cannix Yau Hong Kong’s development minister has promised a public account of her bureau’s oversight of the Queen Mary Hospital lift saga, while stopping short of saying whether a new accountability system for department heads would be invoked. Nearly two weeks after Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu tasked the Development Bureau with submitting a report within a month, Secretary for Development Bernadette Linn Hon-ho said she would get to the bottom of the defective works at the hospital, which left 24 of... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3368888/hong-kong-minister-pledges-public-account-faulty-lifts-queen-mary-hospital https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3368888/hong-kong-minister-pledges-public-account-faulty-lifts-queen-mary-hospital Sat, 26 Sep 2026 06:21:38 +0000 Leopold Chen Leopold Chen The city’s health minister has rejected claims that authorities favour mainland Chinese nurses over local candidates, saying Hong Kong-trained professionals have a “very good chance” of finding work because public hospitals are struggling to recruit. Secretary for Health Lo Chung-mau said on Friday that the Hospital Authority had hired 95 per cent of local applicants for nursing positions over the past year. The figure rose to 99 per cent among applicants with registered nurse qualifications. He... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3368770/health-chief-rejects-claims-chinese-nurses-are-favoured-over-local-candidates https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3368770/health-chief-rejects-claims-chinese-nurses-are-favoured-over-local-candidates Fri, 25 Sep 2026 05:55:28 +0000 Xinmei Shen Xinmei Shen Efforts to detect multiple cancers through a single blood draw are gathering momentum after US regulators endorsed the technology for the first time, although experts say wider adoption in Hong Kong still faces challenges as doctors remain cautious about its clinical value. In a landmark decision for the emerging field of multi-cancer early detection (MCED) blood tests, a US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) panel on Thursday voted in favour of US company Grail’s “Galleri test”, recommending it... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/companies/article/3368665/us-regulators-back-multi-cancer-blood-test-hong-kong-doctors-remain-cautious https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/companies/article/3368665/us-regulators-back-multi-cancer-blood-test-hong-kong-doctors-remain-cautious Thu, 24 Sep 2026 10:05:00 +0000 Elizabeth Cheung Elizabeth Cheung Hong Kong has cut its cancer-related death rate by more than 40 per cent over the past three decades, the health minister has said, as the chief executive renewed his pledge to make the city a hub for medical innovation. Secretary for Health Lo Chung-mau outlined the city’s progress in controlling the disease at the World Cancer Congress, which is being held in Hong Kong for the first time. Citing figures from 1993 to 2023, Lo said Hong Kong’s age-standardised cancer mortality rate had fallen by... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3368624/hong-kong-reports-more-40-drop-cancer-related-death-rate-over-30-years https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3368624/hong-kong-reports-more-40-drop-cancer-related-death-rate-over-30-years Thu, 24 Sep 2026 07:34:32 +0000 Lo Hoi-ying Lo Hoi-ying Hong Kong’s Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) is considering an appeal against the non-custodial sentence of an engineer held liable for faulty lift installation work at Queen Mary Hospital’s new clinical block. The department said on Thursday it was seeking legal advice on whether to apply for a review of lift engineer Law Wing-chai’s sentence after he was deemed responsible for issuing false safety certifications and failing to spot problems that led to malfunctions. Its... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3368611/authorities-may-appeal-engineers-non-custodial-sentence-queen-mary-hospital-lift-case https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3368611/authorities-may-appeal-engineers-non-custodial-sentence-queen-mary-hospital-lift-case Thu, 24 Sep 2026 06:13:22 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Faulty lifts are not uncommon in a high-rise city like Hong Kong, but it’s not every day such problems escalate to its top leader for attention. The 24 malfunctioning lifts at a newly commissioned clinical building at Queen Mary Hospital require not only prompt mechanical repairs but also a thorough investigation and punishment for those responsible. The saga first came to light in mid-August when the full commissioning of the hospital’s new HK$13.5 billion (US$1.7 billion) block was delayed by... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/comment/article/3368243/hong-kong-must-address-systemic-lapses-behind-hospital-lift-failures https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/opinion/comment/article/3368243/hong-kong-must-address-systemic-lapses-behind-hospital-lift-failures Mon, 21 Sep 2026 23:15:07 +0000 Julie Zhang Julie Zhang Precisely targeted sound waves could mark a major advance in treating pancreatic cancer and glioblastoma – an aggressive form of brain cancer – within a few years, according to a leading advocate of the technology. Researchers in Hong Kong and around the world are testing whether the approach can help treat tumours that are among the most challenging to manage. “The next big breakthrough in the near future will be more effective treatments for … glioblastoma and pancreatic cancer,” said Dr Neal... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-business/article/3368041/focused-ultrasound-could-be-next-big-cancer-breakthrough-hard-treat-tumours https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/china-business/article/3368041/focused-ultrasound-could-be-next-big-cancer-breakthrough-hard-treat-tumours Sat, 19 Sep 2026 08:00:07 +0000 Ng Kang-chung Ng Kang-chung A Hong Kong patient died after suffering a heart attack when he was fed a regular meal instead of the required soft food and choked at Prince of Wales Hospital. The public hospital in Sha Tin issued a public apology on Friday and said it had appointed an eight-person panel to look into the blunder. A report, along with recommendations for improvement measures, is expected in eight weeks. The 54-year-old male patient was admitted to hospital on Wednesday morning “due to deteriorated mental... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3368066/patient-who-needed-soft-food-dies-after-choking-regular-meal-public-hospital https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3368066/patient-who-needed-soft-food-dies-after-choking-regular-meal-public-hospital Fri, 18 Sep 2026 14:57:56 +0000 Elizabeth Cheung Elizabeth Cheung Doctors in Hong Kong have been urged to arrange blood tests for patients with symptoms of chikungunya fever, regardless of their travel history, after the city recorded its first local case of the mosquito-borne disease this year. The Centre for Health Protection issued a reminder to doctors on Thursday after a 55-year-old woman with no recent travel history was reported as Hong Kong’s first locally acquired chikungunya fever case in 2026. “To facilitate early diagnosis and timely public health... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3368007/doctors-urged-test-chikungunya-hong-kong-detects-first-local-2026-case https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3368007/doctors-urged-test-chikungunya-hong-kong-detects-first-local-2026-case Fri, 18 Sep 2026 09:06:30 +0000 Edith Lin Edith Lin Hong Kong authorities will hold construction firms and government personnel accountable for faulty lift installation work at Queen Mary Hospital’s new block, the city’s leader has said, as he tasked the Development Bureau with submitting a report within a month. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said on Tuesday that the problem should be rectified “very, very quickly”, adding that he had instructed the bureau, which had given him a preliminary briefing, to “thoroughly investigate the matter and... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3367528/hong-kong-leader-vows-accountability-over-faulty-lifts-queen-mary-hospital https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3367528/hong-kong-leader-vows-accountability-over-faulty-lifts-queen-mary-hospital Tue, 15 Sep 2026 03:53:22 +0000 Julie Zhang Julie Zhang British pharmaceutical company GSK is turning to patient data gathered from the 88 million residents of the Greater Bay Area’s 11 cities to speed up drug development in vaccines and cancer care, as officials push for closer cross-border medical cooperation. GSK Hong Kong and Macau general manager Nicholas Teo said patient data was very important because it could form “supplementary evidence” to support regulatory filings and potential label expansions, and also help to “discover benefits other... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/companies/article/3367404/data-greater-bay-areas-88-million-residents-help-improve-healthcare-policy-gsk https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/business/companies/article/3367404/data-greater-bay-areas-88-million-residents-help-improve-healthcare-policy-gsk Mon, 14 Sep 2026 04:59:04 +0000 Theodora Yu Theodora Yu A lunch supplier will stop portioning meals in classrooms at a Hong Kong primary school following a suspected food poisoning outbreak that hit 39 pupils and staff members last week. Danny Catering Service said in a statement on Sunday to its school partners, parents and teachers that the incident was “isolated” and linked to the school’s portioning arrangement, and did not affect its services at other locations. “To ensure student food safety and avoid potential cross-contamination or... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3367363/supplier-end-classroom-lunch-portioning-sha-tin-primary-after-39-fall-ill https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3367363/supplier-end-classroom-lunch-portioning-sha-tin-primary-after-39-fall-ill Sun, 13 Sep 2026 13:02:45 +0000 Wynna Wong Wynna Wong A Hong Kong teenager with a rare muscle-wasting disease has created an AI version of himself, hoping the digital twin can continue sharing his life story and message of perseverance even after he is gone. Chen Tsz-kin, 17, unveiled “AI Tsz-kin” at the University of Hong Kong (HKU) on Sunday, weeks before his 18th birthday – an age the student said he had long feared reaching because he was once told it was the average life expectancy for people with his disease, Duchenne muscular... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3367361/hong-kong-teen-fatal-disease-creates-ai-avatar-ensure-his-story-lives https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3367361/hong-kong-teen-fatal-disease-creates-ai-avatar-ensure-his-story-lives Sun, 13 Sep 2026 12:39:25 +0000 Ng Kang-chung Ng Kang-chung Hong Kong health authorities are investigating an outbreak of suspected food poisoning that hit 39 pupils and staff members who ate lunch at a Sha Tin school earlier this week. Twenty-three boys and 14 girls, aged between five and 11, from Baptist (Sha Tin Wai) Lui Ming Choi Primary School and two employees, aged 34 and 38, were affected. They developed stomach pain and diarrhoea about eight to 22 hours after eating school lunches provided by a supplier on Wednesday. A spokesman for the school,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3367323/39-pupils-and-staff-fall-ill-after-eating-school-lunches-sha-tin https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3367323/39-pupils-and-staff-fall-ill-after-eating-school-lunches-sha-tin Sat, 12 Sep 2026 15:20:39 +0000 Cannix Yau Cannix Yau Unvaccinated children and elderly people are four to five times more likely to face serious complications or mortality from flu infections than those who receive vaccinations, a Hong Kong health official has warned, as influenza cases in the city continue to rise. Director of Health Ronald Lam Man-kin issued the warning on Saturday as he pointed out that Hong Kong’s influenza infections had been increasing since June. “Up until last week, the number of flu infections still remained at a high... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3367281/unvaccinated-children-elderly-face-much-higher-risk-major-flu-complications-official https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3367281/unvaccinated-children-elderly-face-much-higher-risk-major-flu-complications-official Sat, 12 Sep 2026 05:42:06 +0000 Vivian Au Vivian Au A senior Hong Kong government officer who oversaw faulty lift installation work that stalled the launch of a new block at Queen Mary Hospital was asked to resign and left her post last month to take responsibility for the defects, the South China Morning Post has learned. But the Architectural Services Department (ASD) denied any “forced resignation” was involved in a reply to the SCMP on Saturday night. The officer tendered her resignation for personal reasons and gave three months’ notice,... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3367266/senior-official-asked-resign-over-defective-lifts-queen-mary-hospital https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/society/article/3367266/senior-official-asked-resign-over-defective-lifts-queen-mary-hospital Sat, 12 Sep 2026 00:30:06 +0000 Emily Hung Emily Hung About 60 per cent of Hong Kong’s first batch of dental graduates who underwent mandatory internship training have joined the city’s Department of Health, a move that has helped “significantly ease” the manpower crunch. The development followed a controversial amendment to the Dentists Registration Ordinance in 2024, requiring all dental graduates in Hong Kong to complete a 12-month internship before obtaining a full licence starting in 2025. The measure aimed to enhance hands-on clinical... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3367196/over-60-new-dentists-join-department-health-after-mandatory-internship https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3367196/over-60-new-dentists-join-department-health-after-mandatory-internship Fri, 11 Sep 2026 09:08:35 +0000 Kristen Cheung Kristen Cheung All logos, colourful designs and branding will be stripped from cigarette packs in Hong Kong under new rules that take effect in March next year as part of a fresh push to reduce smoking rates. The Department of Health announced on Thursday that subsidiary legislation would require all retail packs of cigarettes, long cigarette boxes and specified cigars to drop brand logos and advertising elements. Only brand and variant names in a prescribed font will be permitted, printed in standardised... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3367037/hong-kong-roll-out-plain-cigarette-packs-march-full-enforcement-december https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3367037/hong-kong-roll-out-plain-cigarette-packs-march-full-enforcement-december Thu, 10 Sep 2026 08:41:41 +0000 Elizabeth Cheung Elizabeth Cheung Hong Kong’s medical watchdog has said a target time frame for handling complaints will not be necessary as it presented its rebuttal against a government proposal that includes major reforms to its operations, disciplinary sentencing, internal supervision and membership make-up. The Medical Council on Tuesday presented its views on the government’s proposed amendments, which were first laid out in late June and aimed to speed up the watchdog’s process and accountability in handling... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3366950/hong-kong-medical-council-rejects-proposal-time-frame-handling-complaints https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3366950/hong-kong-medical-council-rejects-proposal-time-frame-handling-complaints Wed, 09 Sep 2026 12:40:55 +0000 Lam Ka-sing Lam Ka-sing Hong Kong authorities have reserved the right to seek compensation from contractors over faulty lift installation work that has delayed operations at Queen Mary Hospital’s new block, the development minister has said. Secretary for Development Bernadette Linn Hon-ho said on Tuesday that the main contractor, a Paul Y-Able joint venture, and lift subcontractor Anlev Elex Elevator would be required to bear all costs of remedial work, ensuring public expenditure on the project would not... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3366761/hong-kong-reserves-right-seek-compensation-over-faulty-hospital-lift-work https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3366761/hong-kong-reserves-right-seek-compensation-over-faulty-hospital-lift-work Tue, 08 Sep 2026 08:38:23 +0000 Lo Hoi-ying Lo Hoi-ying In the fourth instalment of a five-part Health Matters wellness series on Hong Kong’s growing wellness trends, Lo Hoi-ying examines how telehealth is reshaping access to care, as practitioners warn it cannot fully replace in-person diagnosis. Hong Kong housewife Chan Ket-yee, nearly 60, has battled severe eczema on her neck and underarms for decades. Splitting her time between the United Kingdom and the city, Chan saw a dramatic improvement after visiting a Hong Kong public dermatologist, whose... https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3366499/there-are-trade-offs-how-hong-kong-patients-can-use-telemedicine-wisely https://www-scmp-com.libproxy1.nus.edu.sg/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3366499/there-are-trade-offs-how-hong-kong-patients-can-use-telemedicine-wisely Sun, 06 Sep 2026 11:00:07 +0000