Secretary for Health Prof Lo Chung-mau today met a delegation led by the Secretary of the Party Committee of Southern Medical University Zhang Yurun to discuss medical co-operation between the Mainland and Hong Kong.

At the meeting, Prof Lo briefed the delegation on the progress of various policy initiatives relating to cross-boundary medical collaboration, including the Elderly Health Care Voucher Greater Bay Area Pilot Scheme, and efforts to redouble training and exchange opportunities for healthcare professionals from the two places.

He told attendees that starting from August 14, the number of Mainland bay area service points where eligible Hong Kong elderly citizens can use Elderly Health Care Vouchers will be increased to seven to cover medical institutions providing integrated or dental services in Shenzhen, Guangzhou and Zhongshan.

He also highlighted that amendments to the Medical Registration Ordinance, the Dentists Registration Ordinance and the Nurses Registration Ordinance in recent years have created pathways for admitting qualified non-locally trained doctors, dentists and nurses to Hong Kong, with a view to addressing the shortage of local healthcare professionals and to fostering exchange and collaboration with healthcare professionals from other regions.

Prof Lo added that the bureau is building on the success of the first phase of the Hospital Authority Healthcare Talents Visiting Programme to strengthen the two-way training and exchange of healthcare talent between Hong Kong and the Mainland. With the support of the Guangdong Health Commission, a new batch of over 100 healthcare personnel from Guangdong have participated in various exchanges in Hong Kong public hospitals.

Prof Lo added: “Under the principle of complementarity and mutual benefits and on the premise of benefitting the healthcare development of both the Mainland and Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government has been reinforcing co-operation on healthcare service developments with various counterparts on the Mainland to enhance healthcare quality.

“Looking ahead, we will remain committed to fostering cross-boundary medical co-operation to propel the important national strategy of ‘Healthy China’ through concerted efforts.”