Hong Kong public hospitals lost 1,247 full-time doctors in the past three years. The annual loss rate of doctors was 8.1 percent, and that of nurses was even higher at 10.7 percent. The Hospital Authority delegation held a recruitment program for medical students and practicing physicians in London.
After the implementation of the National Security Law in Hong Kong, there has been a wave of emigration from Hong Kong, and many talents have been lost from all walks of life.
According to a response by Acting Secretary for Medical Services and Health Libby Lee Ha-yan to a written inquiry at the Legislative Council meeting on March 15, the Hospital Authority (HA) lost 254 full-time doctors in 2020/21, while the number soared to 509 in 2021/22, and to 484 in 2022/23. That adds up to 1,247 full-time doctors lost within three years.
Among them, only 191 were retirees, accounting for just 15.3 percent, and the number of people who left for “non-retirement” reasons was 1,056, accounting for 85 percent.
On Dec. 15, 2022, Henry Fan Hung-ling, chairman of the HA, stated at the Hospital Authority General Assembly that as of October 2022, the annual loss rate of doctors in public hospitals was 8.1 percent, a small drop of 0.2 percent compared with the yearly figure published three months ago.
However, the annual turnover rate of nurses reported three months ago reached 10.7 percent, an increase of 0.6 percent compared to the year-on-year figure.
Delegation to Recruit Medical Students From the UK
The HA delegation held a recruitment program in London, UK, on April 1 and April 2, claiming to have attracted more than 500 local-trained medical students and practicing physicians to attend in person or online to hear the latest about working in Hong Kong, introduction to the working environment in public hospitals, registration arrangements, and specialist training development, and the like.The posters of the HA claim that public hospitals in Hong Kong have six selling points, including an annual salary from 92,772 to 188,088 pounds (approximately US$115,000 to US$234); a 15 percent tax rate; 25 days of annual leave per year; progressive professional training, among others.
The government announced earlier that the Special Registration Committee recognizes 75 non-local medical qualifications. Hong Kong people holding relevant qualifications can obtain official registration without further assessment after working in Hong Kong public medical institutions for a certain period through the special registration program.
Lau Hoi-man, a nurse at a public hospital, gave her opinion in an interview with the Epoch Times on April 7 that the turnover rate of doctors and nurses in public hospitals is currently high, and there is no sign of it “stopping.” The reasons for resignation include retirement, changes in the political environment, emigration, changes in personal development intentions, changes in family status, future oath of allegiance (loyalty to the government), and the like, among which she thought emigration accounted for the most.
Regarding the recruitment of doctors by the Hospital Authority in the UK, Lau said that Hong Kong doctors receive higher pay, which is attractive to Hong Kong students studying in the UK. Still, it may not appeal to other Hong Kong people who have settled there.
