Message from the President, G. Tang, September 2005
Dear Fellows, On
23 July 2005, I attended a Symposium on Specialist Training for Young Doctors
in Hong Kong that was organised by Dr Kwok Ka-ki, our Fellow in the Written
in the Ordinance of the Hong Kong Academy of Medicine, a doctor has to undergo
at least 6 years of postgraduate training, and to pass the assessment in any
Specialty field
before he or she can become Fellow of the Hong Kong Academy of Medicine and be
eligible to register with the Specialist Register of the Medical Council of
Hong Kong. In August 2004, the Academy reviewed the duration of training, and
all Colleges agreed that 6-year training is the minimum time needed to ensure
standard for specialist training. Some specialty and subspecialty training
requires additional 1-3 years. Cognizant
of contract employment of recent graduates since 1997 and the time needed to finish
training and exit examination, the Academy discussed the position of having
training outside the Hospital Authority and allowing trainees to take their
exit examination while not being employed in a training post. There are
several advantages in this decision. First, the scope of training is enlarged.
Trainees will have more opportunities and exposure outside Hospital Authority.
Second, the time constraint to finish
training and examination in a training post in 7 years is reduced. Third, the
employment pressure on Hospital Authority is hopefully lessened. Fourth, the
Specialists in the private sector can become trainers so that their expertise
can be learnt and propagated. Fifth, having training centres in any hospital
can improve the standard of the working environment as these training centres
must be conducive to work and learning. Life-long learning is key to
maintenance of professional standard. Recognition
of training outside Amongst
health-care teams, only medicine and dentistry have an Academy, and with the
existence of an Yours sincerely, Professor
Grace Tang |