Govt Sets Up New Committee To Vet Medical Schools

The government said on Tuesday a new committee will compile a list of up to 100 overseas medical schools to be recognised in Hong Kong, paving the way for permanent residents who studied medicine outside the SAR to return to the city and help ease a chronic shortage of doctors.

Health Secretary Sophia Chan said that the 10-member committee – including four members appointed by the Chief Executive – will look at medical schools’ medium of instruction, curriculum and international ranking, and choose a hundred of them at most.

She dismissed suggestions that the committee would take into account political factors, after critics expressed worries that the quality of medical services might be affected if doctors trained in the mainland are allowed to work here.

Chan said other committee members include the Director of Health and the heads of the Hospital Authority, the Medical Council, the two medical schools in the SAR, and the Hong Kong Academy of Medicine.

“Given the shortage of manpower, we do want people to come back as soon as possible. But they [the committee] do take some time to get the list together. Looking ahead, I don’t think the work of the special registration committee should exceed one year,” she said.

Hong Kong permanent residents who graduated from one of the chosen schools and registered as doctors outside of Hong Kong could come back and work here, as long as they find a job in a local public medical institution.

After they obtain specialist qualification in Hong Kong, they will have to work at the public medical institution for another five years before they can get full registration.