A former president of the Medical Association said on Friday that Hong Kong's public health sector should improve pay and conditions to solve its manpower shortage rather than compelling private doctors to spend time in public hospitals.

Choi Kin made the comments on RTHK's Hong Kong today programme in response to comments in John Lee's Policy Address on Wednesday, in which the Chief Executive said that medical professionals could be required to do a stint in public healthcare.

Choi told RTHK's Samantha Butler that local graduates in medicine would already work in the public sector for between six and 12 years to qualify as specialists.

"Very few doctors nowadays go immediately from graduation to private practice because of concern about inadequate training," Choi said. "So I don't see the need for compulsory residence in the public hospitals after graduation.

"But if it's needed, then the medical students who enter medical schools should be informed of this well ahead. That would be fair. Otherwise to announce that they need to sign a contract to work in the public health service after graduation for a number of years would not be fair to them."

He said the key to addressing a manpower shortage in public hospitals was improving conditions, including addressing overtime hours and crowded wards, as well as salaries.

In his policy blueprint, Lee promised to revamp the healthcare system to enhance efficiency and shift the focus from treatment to prevention.

The CE pledged to reduce waiting times for specialist out-patient services at public hospitals by 20 percent in the next financial year, and add around 4,600 beds and 80 operating theatres over the next five years.