Addressing the Manpower Shortage in Hong Kong’s Medical Sector
In a bid to tackle the critical shortage of nurses in Hong Kong, the Nurses Registration (Amendment) Bill 2023 was passed by the Legislative Council. Despite increasing the number of nursing places, the shortage is expected to persist in the short and mid term.
The amendment allows non-locally trained nurses to practice through three pathways, aiming to maintain service quality amidst the manpower crisis. However, concerns have been raised about the quality of care provided by non-locally trained nurses.
The bill emphasizes the importance of continuing education for all nurses under various registration categories. While the Hospital Authority welcomes the new policy, lawmakers stress the need for strict gatekeeping measures to ensure competence.
Efforts are being made to attract eligible non-locally trained nurses to practice in Hong Kong, but the focus remains on retaining locally trained nurses by improving working conditions and training capacity.
It is clear that while the bill addresses an immediate need, more long-term solutions are required to sustain the quality of healthcare services in Hong Kong.
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