The government said it has launched a scheme enabling Hospital Authority (HA) doctors to also work at the two local medical schools.

A new dedicated dual-track development pathway for doctors was introduced by the Health Bureau in collaboration with the HA and the University of Hong Kong and Chinese University medical schools.

Doctors taking part in the scheme will be granted the title of university professor, and they have to spend at least 30 percent of their working hours on teaching and research work at either medical school.

The HA and the university will pay them on a pro-rata basis.

So far, five doctors, including four from the Hong Kong Children’s Hospital, were selected to join this scheme.

HA director of cluster services Simon Tang said the scheme aims to support scientific research as well as expand the medical and research talent pool.

“We hope that they can contribute to the Hong Kong's micro-innovations and also the research while providing the clinical services to patients,” Tang said.

“We will work together with the medical school in order to design the best proportion of work in terms of research and teaching, as well as balance our clinical duties in order to ensure that all our services provide to our patients are up to a standard.”

Deputy Secretary for Health Elaine Mak said the scheme can help attract non-local doctors to the SAR.

“We are facing very keen competition for medical talent. We are confident that by establishing this dedicated progression pathway for talent in both clinical research and clinical teaching, we will be able to send a strong message to medical doctors overseas and also those nurtured in Hong Kong that the government attaches great importance to nurturing talents in this field,” Mak said.

“We want to create a more conducive environment to allow them to have a more flexible and more fit-for-purpose employment arrangements."

In a statement, Secretary for Health Lo Chung-mau also described the new pathway as a breakthrough.

“I hope that the dual-track development pathway will enable more doctors who aspire to engage in medical, teaching and research work to realise their ambitions and contribute to Hong Kong's medical innovation and research while providing clinical services to patients,” Lo said.