State of the Faculty Address 2020

13 Government introduced the Private Healthcare Facilities Ordinance (Cap. 633) in July 2019 to further protect patient safety and rights through the introduction of this new regulatory regime. Hospital licences issued under this new Ordinance will take effect on January 1, 2021, and we have been working with our affiliated private hospital partners to ensure the goals and requirements are met. In parallel, HKU Health System has been continuing to enhance clinical governance within our own service units, establishing uniform guidance and accountability requirements, embedding the quality and safety principles of this new Ordinance in our everyday practice and providing effective oversight. Over in Shenzhen where colleagues have been extraordinarily resilient and dedicated due to major inconveniences arising from COVID-19 border measures, the HKU-Shenzhen Hospital has been garnering many accolades, including the Shenzhen Mayor’s Quality Award (Gold Award in Social Category) and being named Shenzhen’s Top 10 Medical and Health Institutions in Reform and Innovation. For our part in controlling the pandemic, we have undertaken most of the PCT testing responsibilities for cross-border travellers such as the truck-drivers who have kept Hong Kong well stocked and supplied. For Hong Kong residents with chronic conditions who reside in Shenzhen who cannot conveniently return for their Hospital Authority appointments, we will begin looking after them by commission of the Hong Kong government. Having been designated as a National Training Base for Resident-Trainees, we are building collaborations with Shenzhen University to provide formal postgraduate training curricula in multiple specialties, as part of two “national goal” projects:- (1) structured specialist training for medical doctors in the Mainland and (2) attaining international (ISQua) accreditation for the National Class 3A Hospital Accreditation System. The Li Ka Shing Foundation “Love Can Help” Medical Assistance Pilot Programme was launched in January last year. It is designed to help those who have exhausted other existing assistance schemes such as the Samaritan Fund, Community Care Fund, or otherwise fall outside the scope of the Hospital Authority formulary. The Programme has so far supported 207 patients at HK$17.7 million.