Professor Sophia Chan Siu-chee was a catalyst in getting the ball rolling to reform Hong Kong’s primary healthcare provision, as Secretary for Food and Health from 2017-22. Now, as Policy Convenor of the CPHC and Director of the HKU Primary Health Care Academy, she focuses on outreach, policy advocacy and developing evidence-based models. ‘Hong Kong has embarked on a new primary healthcare journey, and it is very important because hospital expansion plans alone are not enough. We need to prevent people from falling ill or teach them to better manage their health,’ she said. ‘We need different care models in the community so people can take care of themselves.’ Universities can help develop these models. For example, Professor Chan’s own research has influenced tobacco control policies in Hong Kong. Professor David Makram Bishai, CPHC’s Public Health Convenor and Director of the School of Public Health, emphasised the importance of community outreach and collaboration in primary healthcare. He cited Professor Chan’s project, Generations Connect, in which trained student volunteers visit the older adults in their homes to perform health assessment and intervention. ‘In comprehensive primary healthcare, we want to do the work before somebody gets sick. People trained in public health can create platforms like these and co-ordinate with NGOs and people in the community for collective impact and better outcomes,’ he said. Professor Bishai himself recently organised a four-day workshop to bring together local and international NGO members to share their strengths and aspirations in serving people better. He is also researching how DHCs can expand their roles beyond helping patients with hypertension and diabetes. One project is mapping the current healthcare assets in three districts in terms of NGOs, volunteer groups and privatesector organisations. The second is an epidemiological study on about one million Hong Kongers diagnosed with hypertension and diabetes over the past decade and whether DHC activities have improved their health. The final project is to produce a simulation of a million citizens to test what might happen if more was invested in lifestyle changes such as more physical activity. ‘The government has a lot of decisions to make on where to put resources and this computer model could be a safe way of getting guidance about how many lives and money could be saved,’ he said. Professor Chan is also developing evidence on primary healthcare interventions through a Hong Kong Jockey Clubfunded project on women’s health and weight management, involving 10,000 participants in three districts, Southern, Wong Tai Sin and Sai Kung. ‘Evidence-based models are essential for helping the government better ascertain our service needs in future,’ she said. She is also collecting community data on healthrelated activities run by NGOs, such as exercise classes and quit-smoking support. ‘These activities are integral to primary healthcare. Community engagement and collaboration is something we can do.’ FEATURE + A Public Health Imperative ←Professor Sophia Chan Siu-chee ←Professor David Makram Bishai 22
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