Earlier this year (2019), in response to the issue of shortage of medical professionals in Hong Kong, the Government decided to increase extra 150 medical training places at University of Hong Kong (HKU), Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) and The University of Polytechnic University (PolyU) from the 2019/20 academic year onwards. This was intended to increase provision and help the city train more doctors, nurses and dentists. To accommodate this increase, a joint proposal by the Food and Health Bureau and Education Bureau requested the Government to allocate HKD250 million (USD32 million) in order to expand current medical facilities within the three universities. However, in late November, government officials withdrew the funding requests for the projects at HKU and CUHK. The withdrawl of the funding proposal has been linked to university management and recent pro-democracy protests on campuses.

Source: Hong Kong protests: officials withdraw HK$250 million in funding requests for two universities after disquiet at lack of control over campuses voiced by pro-government lawmakers, South Morning China Post

https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/politics/article/3039478/hong-kong-protests-officials-withdraw-hk250-million-funding

Comments by Karen Hsu, Education Services Manager for Hong Kong

According to the Food and Health Bureau, it is estimated that HK is already short of 300 doctors, and predicted the number will raise to 500 by next year. Apart from boosting more medical training places at local universities, relaxation of regulatory requirements for admitting overseas trained doctors to work in HK have also been approved by the local medical authority. The potential job demand in the public health industry has drawn local students’ attention and stimulated their interest in studying healthcare related subjects.

The trend has also mirrored in the pre-registration record of the Study UK August exhibition. The percentage of visitors who expressed their interest in Business and Health and Medicine were relatively similar – 14.8% and 14.5% respectively. This is second consecutive year for us to see strong level of interest in Health & Medicine.

Withdrawal of development funding means local medical schools are unable to cater to the growing demand of training more qualified healthcare professionals. As a result, prospective students will continue to seek alternatives such as study in the UK. We expect to see more applications for healthcare related subjects from Hong Kong next year.