Doctors trained at the proposed third medical school in the city will be technologically adept and skilled in conducting clinical investigations, according to the head of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST). Professor Nancy Ip Yuk-yu, a prominent Alzheimer’s disease researcher and president of HKUST, highlighted the benefits of this new initiative, including increased economic returns and improved patient care.
Professor Ip expressed her hope that this “new generation of doctors” would help address the city's chronic shortage of medical professionals. “We need medical doctors who can embrace new technology to provide better patient care,” she said.
The university confirmed its plans to establish the city's third medical school in October, following months of speculation. Ip noted that with the advent of artificial intelligence (AI) leading humanity into a fifth Industrial Revolution—characterized by humans working alongside advanced technologies—medical care would inevitably be transformed. Examples include the use of robotics in surgery, AI for tracking virus mutations, and engineering to develop new medical devices.
Ip emphasized the importance of doctors knowing basic engineering, AI, and big data analysis. She believes incorporating these subjects into the curriculum is crucial for training future-ready doctors. These tech-savvy doctors could also conduct clinical studies, essential for positioning the city as a biomedical innovation hub, a goal highlighted by Chief Executive John Lee Ka-Chiu in his policy address last October.
The administration aims to increase the city’s gross domestic expenditure on research and development (R&D) from 0.99 percent (HK$26.6 billion or US$3.4 billion) to 2 percent by 2032. Ip pointed out that developing clinical trials could yield returns up to eight times the investment, citing a UK-based study to illustrate the economic benefits of scientific advancements.
