Hong Kong’s Health System

This book makes a significant contribution to the discussions about the future of Hong Kong’s health system. The evidence-driven content draws from the deep expertise and experiences of a wide spectrum of contributors, whose multidisciplinary input, based on moral philosophy, political economy, macro-financing, health services research, business strategy, and patients’ experience, reveals areas that require urgent attention and focuses on the issues that matter most if Hong Kong is to achieve better population health through the system.

The book meets the critical need of students, academics, health care professionals, government officials, politicians, and the general public who have been struggling with how best to approach and understand the context and the need for change.

Gabriel M. Leung has been the Dean of the Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine of the University of Hong Kong since 2013. He was appointed Director of the Chief Executive’s Office in 2011, prior to which he had been Under Secretary for Food and Health since 2008. Before joining the Hong Kong government, he was Professor in Translational Public Health at The University of Hong Kong from 1999. He was Vice President and Censor in Public Health Medicine of the Hong Kong College of Community Medicine, and has served as consultant to various national and international agencies including the World Health Organisation and World Bank. He is inaugural Chair of the multilateral Asia Pacific Observatory on Health Systems and Policies. John Bacon-Shone has been Director of the Social Sciences Research Centre at The University of Hong Kong since 1990. He spent three years on secondment to the Central Policy Unit of the Hong Kong government from 1998 to 2001. He has wide interests in applied statistics and policy research, including medical, environmental and privacy policy.

“This book succeeds in providing a careful analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of Hong Kong’s present healthcare system and compares it with the systems in other countries with similar socio-economic circumstances. I hope that it will lead to an open and impartial debate, which may point the way forward.” —Rosie Young Tse-tse, Emeritus Professor, Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong

“Proper health care is a service that no society can do without. Embarking on health reform to achieve the ideal is the prerogative of most governments. Driven by data and supported by sound evidence, this book offers a tailor made vision for health reform in Hong Kong. It is a recommended compendium for all stakeholders in the health system.” —Leong Che-Hung, former member of the Executive Council and Legislative Council, and ex-chairman of the Elderly Commission

“Hong Kong has a health system that in many ways is unique. However, as this excellent book shows, it is also one from which the rest of the world can learn. The book draws together evidence and analysis in a way that anyone with an interest in health systems of whatever kind can benefit from; and, of course, for those with an interest specifically in health policy in Hong Kong, it is indispensable.” —Julian Le Grand, Richard Titmuss Professor of Social Policy, London School of Economics