The Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau, attended the International Hospital Accreditation Award Presentation Ceremony and Launch of the China's International Hospital Accreditation Standards Press Conference held in Qianhai, Shenzhen, today (June 5) to witness the accreditation of the first batch of Mainland hospitals under the China's International Hospital Accreditation Standards (2021 Version) (the Standards).

     Professor Lo said, "Hospital accreditation is a globally adopted tool to offer hospitals targeted recommendations for improvement through an objective assessment of their performance in various aspects, thereby enhancing the quality of hospital services and safeguarding patients' safety. I am pleased to learn that Shenzhen Hospital of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou First People's Hospital and University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital form the very first batch of Mainland hospitals accredited under the Standards, marking an important milestone in promoting quality healthcare in our country.

     "The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government has been responding to the national policy on hospital accreditation in a proactive manner. The Chief Executive has successively put forward corresponding measures in the 2022 and 2023 Policy Addresses. Among them, the work in relation to implementing the Hospital Accreditation Programme by the Hospital Authority (HA) through adoption of the Standards at Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital and Prince of Wales Hospital will be substantially completed by the end of this year. The HA plans to extend the Hospital Accreditation Programme, adopting the relevant Standards, to two to three other public hospitals in the coming year.

     "The HKSAR Government will continue to actively promote accreditation of more public hospitals under the Standards, with a view to ensuring that the management and service levels as well as healthcare quality of local hospitals are on par with international standards while aligning with the national healthcare service system. At the same time, the participation of public hospitals in the relevant accreditation programme can serve as a demonstration to the international community the national hospital accreditation standards, with Hong Kong acting a gateway to promote the going global of national standards." 

     The Standards were jointly developed by hospital accreditation experts from Hong Kong and the Mainland based on the national Tier III Class A hospital accreditation standards and in accordance with the requirements of the International Society for Quality in Health Care, while drawing reference from international experience. The Standards are the first internationally recognised hospital accreditation standards of the country.

Ends/Wednesday, June 5, 2024
Issued at HKT 19:14

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