Page 9 - Hospital Authority Convention 2018

Message from Secretary for Food and Health

The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region

I am pleased to offer my warmest congratulations to the Hospital Authority.

Over the past decades, the Hospital Authority has been at the forefront of
provision of public healthcare services in Hong Kong and is undoubtedly an
important partner to the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative
Region in fostering the health of Hong Kong citizens. The Government has
a strong resolve to support the Hospital Authority to augment its capacity,
services and infrastructure to cope with the challenges of the ageing population
and the rising prevalence of chronic diseases, and has devoted considerable
efforts and resources to ensure sustainable development of the public
healthcare system. As announced in the Policy Address in October 2017, the
Government has committed to a new triennium funding arrangement for the
Hospital Authority to enable it to address the challenges arising from growing
demand and ageing population in a more effective and sustained manner.

At the same time, high-quality public hospital services could not be rendered
to the community without the dedication and diligent efforts of our healthcare
professionals and supporting teams in the Hospital Authority. In this respect,
I take this opportunity to thank you all from the bottom of my heart for your
unfailing commitment and dedication in serving the community.

Training and experience sharing are crucial to continuous development of
our healthcare colleagues. I am sure that the many distinguished local and
international speakers in the Convention will provide all of us with a wealth of
invaluable information and illuminating insights which facilitate innovations in
prevention, diagnosis and treatment. For that, I commend the Hospital Authority
for organising this Convention for over 20 years and providing a golden
opportunity for learning and experience sharing.

Primary care and chronic diseases management are the key topics of this year’s
Convention. Being the first level of healthcare, primary healthcare embraces
strong elements of health promotion, disease prevention and maintenance of the
health of chronic patients. The Government has announced in the 2017 Policy
Address our strong commitment to the development of primary healthcare
in Hong Kong. We have set up a Steering Committee on Primary Healthcare
Development to draw up a development blueprint of primary healthcare and
shall establish district health centres progressively in Hong Kong. I am sure that
the Convention this year will provide an excellent platform to share insights and
ideas for the development of primary healthcare services in Hong Kong.

I wish the Convention a great success. For those coming from outside Hong
Kong, I also wish that you would have an enjoyable stay here and experience
the vibrancy of Asia’s world city. HOSPITAL AUTHORITY CONVENTION 2018

Professor Sophia CHAN Siu-chee
Secretary for Food and Health
The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
7