Latest news with #public hospitals
South China Morning Post
5 days ago
- Health
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong public healthcare moving on right path: outgoing Hospital Authority head
The Hospital Authority's outgoing chief executive has said Hong Kong public hospitals are on the right path in terms of finances, manpower and infrastructure, with his term as the organisation's top man being a 'complete and abundant' experience. Dr Tony Ko Pat-sing, who will retire by the end of the month, described his past six years as a 'joyful time' despite having to overcome challenges brought by anti-government protests and the Covid-19 pandemic. 'I feel reassured,' Ko said on Thursday. 'I feel our financial resources are stable, manpower is fine, our infrastructure – system, software, hardware and hospitals expansion plan – I think all are in place. 'I view my six-year term as complete and abundant, and I feel joyful about it.' Staff shortages are a long-standing issue in public hospitals, but Ko said that healthcare manpower grew by about 10 per cent compared with when he assumed office in 2019. Currently, there are about 320 non-locally trained doctors from more than 10 jurisdictions working in the city's public hospitals. More overseas-trained nurses have started to join, and the authority is planning to hire allied health professionals trained outside Hong Kong.
Free Malaysia Today
21-07-2025
- Health
- Free Malaysia Today
Give clarity on Rakan KKM initiative, health ministry told
Rakan KKM is an initiative that aims to provide 'premium economy' services at selected government hospitals. PETALING JAYA : The Malaysian Medical Association (MMA) has called on the health ministry to clarify the governance and transparency aspects of the newly announced Rakan KKM initiative as well as its potential impact. MMA president Dr Kalwinder Singh Khaira said one of the concerns over the initiative to offer 'premium economy' services at selected public hospitals was the risk of creating unequal access to care. 'There is growing apprehension that wealthier patients could be given faster access to services through this model within public facilities, effectively creating a two-tiered system. 'Such an outcome would undermine the principles of universal health coverage, which are built on fairness and equal access to care for all, regardless of socioeconomic status,' he said in a statement today. Another issue, he said, was regulatory oversight, noting that Rakan KKM was reportedly seeking licensing under the Private Healthcare Facilities and Services Act 1998. 'As this is a government initiative to be regulated by another arm of the government, public trust in its transparency, accountability, and compliance with healthcare standards must be assured. Kalwinder also flagged concerns about the strain on an already overstretched public healthcare workforce. 'With severe shortages of doctors, nurses, and allied health professionals, the association wants to know if Rakan KKM will involve the secondment of government staff, external hiring, or the transfer of existing personnel from public facilities,' he said. He added that the use of existing health ministry resources, such as infrastructure, equipment, and administrative support, must be addressed. Kalwinder stressed that any new initiative must not be profit-driven and remain focused on the welfare of the people. 'All reforms or partnerships in healthcare must be guided by the principles of equity, quality, transparency, and long-term sustainability,' he said. Health minister Dzulkefly Ahmad said last night that Rakan KKM was a government-backed initiative. In a post on X, Dzulkefly said Rakan KKM Sdn Bhd was 100%-owned by the MoF Inc, and that GLICs could take an equity stake in Rakan KKM.
