The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) today (3 October) held an inter-disciplinary Symposium on "Primary Health Care (PHC) in Hong Kong: Vision and Challenges" to deliberate on the important themes relating to PHC. Professor Sophia Chan, Secretary for Food and Health, and Professor Timothy W. Tong, President of PolyU, officiated at the Symposium, which was attended by more than 120 scholars, government officials and professionals from health care and welfare sectors.
Jointly organised by PolyU's Faculty of Health and Social Sciences and General Education Centre, the Symposium covered a number of topics around PHC such as the pressing need for implementing PHC in Hong Kong, the vision and challenges, the resource planning in health care sector to cope with the development, and the roles of health care and welfare professionals.
Hong Kong has to address the challenges brought by demographic changes in the next decade. According to government projection, by 2031, 29% of the local population will reach the age of 65 or above, up from 17% in 2016.[1] Given this ageing trend and the accompanying societal needs, policy-makers as well as social and public institutions have to rethink the relevant policy framework, infrastructure, financial and manpower resources for health care, nursing care and rehabilitation services etc.
In his welcoming speech, Professor Timothy W. Tong said it is pivotal to promote PHC for attaining "health for all"in order to address the challenges brought by an ageing population. A comprehensive PHC system can help foster the physical and mental well-being of Hong Kong citizens, lessen the burdens on medical services, and enhance the general public health care standard of the society. To attain this goal, inter-disciplinary multi-sector collaboration of various professions and organisations is crucial. The aim of this Symposium is to initiate dialogues and foster collaboration among different stakeholders.
Professor Tong pointed out that PolyU is application-oriented and people-oriented in its research, teaching and learning endeavours, and is keen to contribute professional knowledge for the benefit of the society. "For more than 40 years, our Faculty of Health and Social Sciences has nurtured a wide range of primary health care, allied health and social sciences professionals, who have then become the key players in our health care system. The Faculty is also proactive in promoting primary health care and providing outreach service for the public, such as eye care and integrative health care. Furthermore, the Faculty also assigns representatives to participate in the working groups or committees of the Government and related organisations to help devise the blueprints for the development of primary health care services."
Addressing the symposium, Professor Sophia Chan, Secretary for Food and Health said, "The Government has been developing primary healthcare services since the early 1990s. At the end of last year, we have also set up the Steering Committee on Primary Healthcare Development to develop a blueprint for the sustainable development of primary healthcare services for Hong Kong. It will deliberate on various aspects including manpower and infrastructure planning, collaboration model, community engagement, and planning and evaluation framework. The Food and Health Bureau will continue to enhance the primary healthcare services provided by the Department of Health and the Hospital Authority."
In his keynote speech, Professor Albert Lee, Director of Centre for Health Education and Health Promotion, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, emphasised on the imminent need to implement comprehensive PHC in Hong Kong. He said the government, members of various professions and the public all have important roles to play for promoting health for all.
Mr Fong Ngai, Deputy Secretary for Food and Health (Health), shared on the Government's medical manpower planning and ways of coping with PHC developments. Mr Chow Yick-hay, Kwai Tsing District Council Member, showcased the success story of promoting PHC programme in Kwai Tsing District, under which inter-disciplinary collaborated efforts have helped empower residents to stay healthy.
Also speaking at the symposium were PolyU scholars in the fields of health care, social sciences and general education. They shared their views on the roles and challenges in promoting PHC of different health care professions, including nursing, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, optometry, radiography and social sciences.
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[1]Census and Statistics Department, HKSAR (2017) Hong Kong Population Projections 2017-2066
