The Government announced today the establishment of the Task Group on New Medical School, which is responsible for devising the direction and parameters for a new medical school.

The task group intends to extend invitation of proposals within this year to local universities interested in establishing the new medical school, so as to select a suitable university for setting up the third medical school.

The Chief Executive stated in the 2024 Policy Address that the Government supports the establishment of the third medical school by a local university to nurture more talented medical practitioners in support of the local healthcare system with the aim of providing quality service and driving Hong Kong's development into an international medical training, research and innovation hub.

The Task Group on New Medical School’s terms of reference include liaising with interested local universities, inviting and assessing proposals from them, handling matters including but not limited to funding arrangements, programme accreditation, teaching hospital and research support, and formulating recommendations on the new medical school and related arrangements for decision by the Chief Executive in Council.

The task group’s other terms of references call for liaising with the university selected for the establishment of the new medical school on the implementation plan, and providing facilitation on the interim and long-term arrangements for a designated school campus and teaching hospital in consultation with the relevant government bureaus and departments.

Both the Secretary for Education and Secretary for Health are co-chairmen of the Task Group on New Medical School.

Secretary for Health Prof Lo Chung-mau said the establishment of the third medical school is an important project in developing medical education in Hong Kong to drive the pursuit of excellence in medical teaching and research in the city.

“I hope the new medical school could pursue an innovative strategic position complementarity with the two existing ones in areas such as the medical curriculum, sources of students and research projects with a view to promoting diversified development in local medical education and research as well as attracting more local, Mainland and overseas medical talent to take up teaching and research duties.”

Noting that the Government attaches significant importance to the establishment of the new medical school, Prof Lo stressed that it has in particular invited seasoned local, Mainland and overseas academics for medical teaching and university management, professionals, the President of the Academy of Medicine and Chairman of the Medical Council of Hong Kong, together with heads of relevant bureaus and departments to form the task group.

The health chief added that the task group will holistically examine various factors when considering proposals submitted by universities, including the strategic position of the medical school, curriculum design, student recruitment arrangement, demand and supply of teaching and training manpower, facilities and financial resources required.

“I sincerely look forward to working closely with all members of the task group to start a new chapter for medical education in Hong Kong. Our first target is to extend invitation of proposals within this year to local universities interested in setting up the new medical school.”