Hong Kong, the Chinese mainland, and international entities will jointly address escalating population aging challenges by integrating experience and perspectives, and leveraging technology, as shared by senior officials and global nursing and medical professionals at a high-level forum on Friday.
The two-day 15th Hong Kong International Nursing Forum cum International Forum on Proactive Health and Ageing, focusing on cross-disciplinary innovation and nursing leadership, will conclude on Saturday at the University of Hong Kong’s Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine (HKUMed).
Secretary for Health Lo Chung-mau delivered the forum’s opening address, highlighting projections that the global population aged 65 years or older will more than double, reaching 1.6 billion by 2050 from 761 million in 2021. While population aging is a worldwide trend, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region faces unique challenges as it has one of the highest life expectancies in the world. Lo said that this is both an honor for the city and a significant challenge for the healthcare system.
Lo confirmed that the SAR government will maintain a focus on healthcare development, particularly addressing long-standing staffing shortages. In recent years, the government has improved legislation to facilitate the recruitment of healthcare professionals like doctors, nurses, and dentists from other regions, which will alleviate the burden on public healthcare and enhance services for residents. Ongoing initiatives also aim to strengthen various healthcare aspects, including grassroots chronic disease management and enhancing family doctor services.
He called on all members of society, including but not limited to nursing professionals, to collaborate in shaping Hong Kong into a leading age-friendly society globally. Lo expressed his vision for Hong Kong to enhance the quality of life for every elderly individual and share its experiences in global aging governance.
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At the forum, top global scholars also shared their professional experiences and the latest field advancements such as AI and digital application. Experts called for continuously promoting exchanges to inspire fresh ideas and collaborative initiatives.
Professor Li Xuejun from Xiangya School of Medicine at Central South University, one of the event organizers and an esteemed academic institution in the mainland, anticipates sharing research findings, exchanging practical experiences, and expanding interdisciplinary and international networks with global counterparts. He envisions that these interactions will not only propel nursing science and healthy aging forward but also delve into sustainable health management strategies to enhance societal health, particularly focusing on the well-being of older adults.
Dean of HKUMed, another organizer of the forum, Lau Chak-sing emphasized the importance of the forum theme, namely proactive health, aging, and nursing leadership, in optimizing lifelong well-being. He affirmed HKUMed's commitment to proactive health strategies and expressed willingness to enhance collaboration with peers.
Along with leading medical institutions worldwide, the event is also being co-hosted by the Hong Kong Ta Kung Wen Wei Media Group. Li Dahong, chairman of the media group, said he believes that utilizing its strengths in academia, finance, institutions, and corporate resources, Hong Kong can serve as an international hub in the health sector, which will foster research translation, cross-border health services, and global industry exchanges.
He also suggested that by hosting more high-level forums and establishing an international think tank alliance, Hong Kong can gather global wisdom in addressing aging and share its practical experience with the world. In this way, the city will better foster exchanges between China and the global community.
Contact the writer at amberwu@chinadailyhk.com
