Over 7,000 healthcare professionals will discuss AI-powered medical technologies and other mainstream topics at the Hospital Authority’s (HA) annual convention on May 16 and 17, the authority revealed on Thursday.

Around 160 local and international speakers will share their insights at the event — which will also be broadcasted to over 70 locations managed by the authority, representatives from the authority said at a press conference.

The new theater, one of the innovations due to be discussed at the convention, can support cross-specialist teams to perform relatively complex and urgent surgery while reducing the amount of radiation released, Lam said

Loletta So Kit-ying, who chairs the Scientific Programme Committee of the Hospital Authority Convention, said the event will have 58 sessions featuring the authority’s core values such as people-centered care and teamwork, knowledge sharing in clinical advances, and modern healthcare services as well as discussion of contemporary concepts in healthcare.

READ MORE: Hospital Authority activates service demand surge measures

So added that experts will also discuss some cases of medical innovation in local hospitals, including using artificial intelligence to screen out stroke patients and training surgeons with 3D-printed tumor models. Telehealth and smart hospital development will also be highlighted, said So.

The conference will also set up 17 masterclasses on clinical topics focusing on subjects such as new service models in neuroscience, perioperative care, and cancer therapy.

Samuel Lam Siu-kei, a neurosurgery consultant at Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital, introduced the hybrid operating theater that was set up in the hospital in late 2022.

READ MORE: UK, mainland top sources of HK’s non-locally trained doctors

The new theater, one of the innovations due to be discussed at the convention, can support cross-specialist teams to perform relatively complex and urgent surgery while reducing the amount of radiation released, Lam said.

With the completion of the new operating theater, the number of minimally invasive brain surgery surgeries performed at the hospital increased from 120 the previous year to about 150 last year, Lam noted.

The HA has organized the signature convention every year since 1993. The 2023 convention was attended by some 6,000 healthcare professionals, academics, executives and stakeholders from the Hong Kong SAR, the Chinese mainland and overseas.

Contact the writer at stephyzhang@chinadailyhk.com