The following is provided on behalf of the Hospital Authority:

The Hospital Authority (HA) invites the steps connecting to health care service reform and the worldwide health and medical development center consisted of in the First Five-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (2026-2030) and the Chief Executive’s 2026 Policy Address provided by the Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, today (September 16). The procedures, which are of significant significance, will help with the sustainable advancement of the general public health care system, allow early medical diagnosis and treatment for clients, supply services that satisfy clients’ requirements, even more speed up the technological advancement of ingenious drugs and medical gadgets, and enhance the function of public health care as a safeguard for all.

The HA Chairman, Mr Henry Fan, stated, “With the progressive commissioning of Kai Tak Hospital, the HA will utilise the site of Queen Elizabeth Hospital to develop Hong Kong’s first integrated ambulatory care hospital at King’s Park. High-capacity cataract surgery and diagnostic radiology services will first be introduced, and the site will also serve as a radiotherapy centre. The additional service capacity will ensure that patients can receive treatment as soon as possible. The development projects under the First Hospital Development Plan are expected to be completed in 2031. By then, the number of beds in public hospitals will increase by nearly 20 per cent, and the number of operating theatres will increase by more than 40 per cent. The HA will also commence preparations next year for the establishment of the New Territories North Cluster, and assess the need and feasibility of constructing Hung Shui Kiu Hospital.”

Mr Fan stated that the HA will continue to make every effort to boost total functional performance and reduce the waiting time for steady brand-new cases in defined specializeds (specifically Ear, Nose and Throat, Ophthalmology, Gynaecology, Medicine, Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Psychiatry and Surgery) by half within 5 years. In the coming year, the waiting time of the defined specializeds will initially be decreased by 10 percent. The HA will likewise optimise visit plans, broaden multi-disciplinary, integrated scientific services, and constantly boost service capability. In addition, to dovetail with the Government’s procedures to motivate giving birth, the HA will gradually increase the service quota for in-vitro fertilisation to 1 900 annually over the next 3 years.

The HA will totally dovetail with the Government’s policy instructions to establish a worldwide health and medical development center, boost the regulative system of drugs and medical gadgets, and drive the translation of medical development. The HA will make preparations to develop the HA Technology Convergence Hub as a platform to promote translation into medical application, speed up the adoption of ingenious medical innovations, and generate ingenious drugs and medical devices through co-operation with stakeholders, so that brand-new treatments can benefit clients earlier and treatment choices in public health centers can be expanded.

Furthermore, through executing digitalisation, making use of information and expert system, the HA will thoroughly promote the digital improvement of public health centers in 5 locations, particularly “Smart Care” “Smart Hospital Management” “Smart Hospital Support” “Smart Staff” and “Smart Facilities and Infrastructure”so regarding develop worldwide leading clever medical facilities.

The HA Chief Executive, Dr Libby Lee, stated, “The very first stage of the general public health care costs and charges reform has actually been executed efficiently, and the security for bad, intense, major and important clients has actually revealed instant outcomes. The HA will actively consist of more ingenious drugs with outstanding effectiveness in the Drug Formulary, covering more indicators, to make sure that no client will be not able to get proper treatment due to monetary factors, which members of the general public will not end up being impoverished due to health problem.

In cancer treatment, the HA will continue to execute the Hong Kong Cancer Strategy, raising diagnostic imaging capability and using AI to help with medical diagnosis and advanced lab screening; boost radiotherapy service capability and speed up the intro of brand-new cancer drugs through the general public health care charges and charges reform; refer steady and low-risk cancer survivors to main health care for constant follow-up; and enhance multi-disciplinary palliative care and end-of-life services.”

Dr Lee stated that, with the strong assistance of the HKSAR Government, the HA will continue to dovetail with the policy instructions of the Health Bureau and serve the general nationwide local advancement. The HA will even more advance the facility of Integrated Cardiovascular Diseases Centres in accordance with nationwide requirements, improve general assessment and treatment services for chest discomfort and other heart diseases, enhance clients’ assessment experience and medical treatment efficiency, and assist promote nationwide medical accreditation as a worldwide requirement.

The HA revealed wholehearted gratitude for the HKSAR Government’s constant assistance of public health care services, and will continue to actively dovetail with the Health Bureau to deepen public health care reform work, so regarding boost the security, quality and effectiveness of public health care services, supply members of the general public with an easier, comfy and safe assessment experience, and guarantee that services are provided with a more human touch.