HONG KONG – The Health Bureau has expressed deep concern over multiple recent incidents in Hong Kong’s public hospitals involving caring procedures for patients and equipment operations.

The bureau instructed the Hospital Authority on Friday to conduct a comprehensive review of the systemic issues and the need for reform with regard to public hospital management and to submit a report with recommendations within three months.

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Such incidents reflect the dire need for improving the management of the public healthcare system to ensure medical safety and the well-being of patients, the bureau said on Friday.

I have demanded the HA to complete the review and submit a report covering recommendations on corresponding enhancement measures within three months.

Lo Chung-mau, Secretary for Health, HKSAR

Patients' safety should at all times be accorded the topmost priority in the healthcare system, said Secretary for Health Professor Lo Chung-mau.

“In the light of the multiple recent incidents related to healthcare services of public hospitals, I have written to the chairman of the HA to express serious concern, task the HA to follow up on the relevant incidents expeditiously, and instruct the HA to initiate with utmost intent a comprehensive and independent review regarding the associated systemic issues of public hospitals.”

Such issues include the monitoring mechanism for compliance with medical procedures, staff appraisal, and management accountability, internal risk management systems, contingency response as well as communication and announcement arrangements, he said.

Subject to the report, the bureau will carefully examine the HA’s system and the need for reform, added the health chief.

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“The HA is required to take every measure to ensure that patients of public hospitals receive the most optimal medical care, prevent the occurrence of medical and equipment incidents, and minimize the risks posed to patients and staff, with a view to maintaining the healthcare quality in Hong Kong and upholding public confidence in the public healthcare system,” he added.