Hong Kong doctors get go-ahead to hold hospital, medical school jobs at same time
New ‘dual-track’ pathway aims to boost medical education, research talent pool, with scheme involving health authorities, universities
Hong Kong is allowing doctors to hold positions at both public hospitals and the city’s two medical schools under a new “dual-track” pathway that the government has called a “breakthrough” in recruiting clinical, education and research talent from both local and overseas.
The Health Bureau said on Monday that the mechanism provided a a development pathway that was “more fitting”, “certain” and “clearer” for talent to engage in medical, teaching and research work compared with previous arrangements.
Secretary for Health Lo Chung-mau said the arrangement signified a “breakthrough” in institutional frameworks through collaboration between the Hospital Authority and the two local medical schools to train and retain medical talent.
“I hope that the dual-track development pathway will enable more doctors who aspire to engage in medical, teaching and research work to realise their ambitions and contribute to Hong Kong’s medical innovation and research while providing clinical services to patients,” he said.
“I also hope this new measure will attract more non-locally trained doctors who are interested in clinical research and innovation to come to Hong Kong, to further strengthen the medical talent pool for the benefit of the public.”
The framework provided stronger support for teaching and research duties, including conferring the title of university professor, he added.