Government welcomes formal establishment of Institute for Medical Advancement and Clinical Excellence today
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The seven founding members of the IMACE, namely the Hong Kong Academy of Medicine (HKAM), the Department of Health, the Hospital Authority, the Primary Healthcare Commission, the Faculty of Medicine of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, the LKS Faculty of Medicine of the University of Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Private Hospitals Association, attended the inaugural meeting held by the IMACE today. At the invitation of the HHB, the HKAM has nominated its past President, Professor Gilberto Leung, to serve as the first Convenor of the IMACE. The HKAM will also provide secretarial support to assist the IMACE to commence its work.
The Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau, said, "I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to colleagues from the healthcare sector for accepting the invitation to establish the IMACE, which has marked a new milestone in the development of Hong Kong's healthcare system. The IMACE will serve as the city's professional platform underpinned by evidence-based medicine that brings together the rich expertise of healthcare professionals and the wealth of clinical data from both the public and private sectors, enabling the exploration of more effective medical options, and ultimately benefitting patients who seek treatment in Hong Kong."
Professor Lo added, "In view of the rapid advancement in medical technology, I hope that the IMACE can promote exchanges among healthcare professionals and maintain connections with institutions responsible for developing evidence-based medicine and clinical guidelines worldwide (including the Mainland and overseas regions). This will enable our healthcare professionals to learn about and apply the latest technologies, further promoting Hong Kong's development into an international health and medical innovation hub."
The Chief Executive announced in the 2024 Policy Address that the Government would establish a professional platform for developing evidence-based clinical protocols and exploring the feasibility of devising service quality and efficiency standards for public and private healthcare sectors. The Secretary for Health subsequently wrote to the seven major institutions in Hong Kong's healthcare sector in December last year, inviting them to form the IMACE as founding members. All invited institutions expressed their willingness to participate.
With members spanning across both the public and private healthcare sectors in Hong Kong, the IMACE will enable the sectors to collect data and cases in an effective manner for detailed deliberations on clinical practices in screening, diagnosis, treatment and management of various diseases, as well as evaluating the efficacy of various medical options (e.g. drugs, medical devices, diagnostic techniques, surgical procedures, non-pharmacological interventions and new medical innovations). Upon comprehensive deliberations, the IMACE will devise and promulgate clinical guidelines as well as service quality and efficiency standards.
Apart from providing a reference for healthcare professionals to enhance healthcare standards, the relevant clinical guidelines and standards can also serve as public education tools to facilitate citizens' understanding of the healthcare services they may need in the event of different illnesses. Furthermore, the IMACE can make recommendations to the Government on implementing policy initiatives to drive clinical excellence and improve practice quality.
In accordance with the principle of professional autonomy, the HHB invited the founding members to establish the IMACE and committed to providing financial support to take forward its work, but will not be involved in its governance, research or discussions. The IMACE may also set up working groups as necessary and invite other professional members and co-opted members to participate, thereby facilitating more holistic deliberations.
Ends/Thursday, May 8, 2025
Issued at HKT 20:42
Issued at HKT 20:42
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