Secretary for Health Prof Lo Chung-mau today attended the Hospital Authority’s (HA) organ donation promotion forum held at Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH).

Prof Lo also inspected QEH’s work on establishing the Kowloon Central Cluster Integrated Neuroscience Centre as well as the HA’s Head Office Major Incident Control Centre (HOMICC) and Emergency Operation Command (HAEOC).

Held for HA Kowloon Central Cluster healthcare staff, the organ donation promotion forum features the Mainland’s organ transplant mechanism, Hong Kong’s organ transplant services, the operation of the Centralised Organ Donation Register as well as government efforts in promoting organ donation.

Addressing the forum, Prof Lo said the Government fully backs the HA in strengthening staff training to solidify the role of healthcare professionals in pushing ahead with the work on organ donation and transplantation.

The objective is for healthcare personnel to give full play to cultivate an environment favouring registration for organ donation, thereby drumming up society’s support for organ donation at large, he added.

The health chief pointed out that at present, over 2,600 patients suffering from organ failure have been waiting for a transplant in Hong Kong, while there are only some 30 deceased donors each year.

A downward trend has been observed in recent years under the impact of COVID-19, with the supply of organs falling far behind the demand.

“In this connection, we are actively exploring with relevant Mainland authorities the establishment of a standing organ transplant mutual assistance mechanism, with a view to giving patients of the two places an extra chance for a new life through such cross-boundary mutual assistance.”

The organ donation promotion forums are being held in seven hospital clusters and the HA Head Office from August for several weeks in a row.

Prof Lo proceeded to inspect QEH’s work on the establishment of the Kowloon Central Cluster Integrated Neuroscience Centre and learnt about the multi-disciplinary team’s support for patients suffering from complex neurological diseases.

He also visited the Hospital Command Centre in QEH and received a briefing by healthcare staff on the hospital’s daily management of clinical operations, bed turnover and resources allocation as well as how it leverages technology to enhance efficiency and improve treatment procedures for patients.

In addition, Prof Lo viewed the HA’s HOMICC and HAEOC to get a better understanding of the operation of the HA emergency response system.

Among others, he learnt from staff about how the HAEOC made use of hospitals' real-time data during the COVID-19 epidemic to directly mobilise resources including beds and manpower, and transfer patients to appropriate hospitals or relevant facilities for treatment.