The main theme for the Hospital Authority Convention 2006 is "From Policy to Practice 政策與實踐". Reflecting the worldwide trend of policy makers initiating healthcare reform, the Convention aims to provide practical and relevant learning materials for healthcare professionals to cope with the rapidly changing environment. It will cover country experience of healthcare reform, financing models, and strategies for meeting the difficult challenges ahead.

In Hong Kong, the Government has reconvened the 'Health and Medical Development Advisory Committee' to deliberate on the best healthcare model to serve Hong Kong people better and on how the care model can be financed in a sustainable manner. Hence, options of healthcare financing will form a major theme of the Convention. The theme will draw on the experience and expertise of internationally acclaimed speakers.

In addition, the Government has spelt out the re-positioning of the public hospital system to cover the following priorities:-

1. Acute and emergency care;
2. Services for low income group and the underprivileged;
3. High cost, advanced technology and multi-disciplinary professional team work; and
4. Training of healthcare professionals.

It follows from here that the other major theme of the Convention is on priority setting and how public resources can be better targeted at those with genuine clinical needs.

The Hospital Authority Convention 2006 will have a panel of distinguished overseas and local speakers to share their views and interact with the participants. The Convention will include the following sub-themes to ensure a more focused discussion:-

1. Health as an Investment
2. Healthcare Financing: options and equity
3. Resources Allocation and Service Priorities
4. Community Engagement in Healthcare

Apart from healthcare system and policy issues, the Convention will also deliberate on the following of topical issues.

1. Human resources management in healthcare industry
   • The implication of new healthcare model on workforce
   • Evidenced based human resources management
     
     
2. Health Informatics
   • ePR- electronic patient record
   • Information technology and risk management
     
     
3. Disaster management in healthcare
   • Natural disaster
   • Terrorist attack
   • Influenza pandemic
     
     
4. Clinical areas
   • Toxicology
   • Scientific approach to Chinese Medicine
   • Mental health and wellness
   • Clinical audits

About the Hospital Authority Convention

The Hospital Authority Convention 2006 is one of the largest healthcare conferences in the Asia Pacific region. It has gone from strength to strength since 1993 as an international forum in which healthcare professionals, managers and policy makers around the world share their knowledge and experience as well as the latest research findings.

Last year, the Convention was attended by over 2,500 clinicians and healthcare professionals, including health service executives and clinical staff, from China, Hong Kong and overseas. This year, for the pursuit of a dynamic and sustainable healthcare system, we will have as speakers internationally renowned academics and experts to share their ideas, expertise and experience at the Convention. It will be an unparalleled forum for learning and networking.

With such a distinguished faculty, the Hospital Authority Convention 2006 is definitely an event not to be missed by all healthcare professionals, managers and decision makers.