Press Releases
Mainland and Hong Kong SAR sign MOU to enhance health and medical cooperation (with photo)
Witnessed by about 100 members from the medical and health sector, the Secretary
for Health, Welfare and Food, Dr York Chow, today (June 22) signed a Memorandum
of Understanding (MOU) with the visiting Minister of Health, Mr Gao Qiang, to
strengthen co-operation and exchanges in health and medical areas with an aim to
raise the health care standard in both places.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Dr Chow said that since the establishment of
the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, exchanges and communication between
the Mainland and Hong Kong had become more and more frequent. Close co-operation
between the health authorities of the Mainland and Hong Kong was vital in
meeting the numerous new challenges in public health.
"The signing of the MOU today marks a major milestone in public health
development and medical co-operation between the Ministry of Health and the
Health, Welfare and Food Bureau.
"I believe that with the strong support of the Ministry, the Mainland and Hong
Kong will continue to maintain their good partnership to strive for better
public health protection. We will further enhance our communication and
co-operation on the basis of the MOU," he said.
Under the MOU, the two sides agreed to foster co-operation in various areas
including strengthening the flow of health and medical information as well as
the notification and contingency co-operation system on infectious disease
outbreaks and public health emergencies. The two sides would also promote the
exchange and co-operation on community health services between the Mainland and
Hong Kong.
In addition, the two sides would encourage medical and health professional
groups and relevant institutions in the Mainland and Hong Kong to share
experience through seminars and training programmes. Mutual co-operation on
hospital management would be advanced through ways such as fostering exchange
between hospital management experts and health care professionals, building
partnership between hospitals and discussing the arrangement for effective
referral of patients among the medical institutions in Hong Kong and the
Mainland.
Ends/Friday, June 22, 2007
Issued at HKT 14:47
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(Photo)