Hong Kong's Hospital Authority (HA) is building a Technology Convergence Hub to speed the introduction of new medical technologies, drugs and equipment into the city's public hospitals. The platform, part of the HA's response to Hong Kong's first Five-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development 2026-2030, will connect clinical needs with external partners to move innovations from development into patient care.
The five-year plan commits the HA to digital transformation across five areas: smart care, smart hospital management, smart hospital support, smart staff, and smart facilities and infrastructure. It also targets expanded use of AI in cancer care for diagnosis and laboratory testing, alongside increased imaging and radiotherapy capacity.
eHealth expansion and cross-boundary records
The government will continue developing eHealth+ into a citywide digital health network linked to the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. More than 6.5 million people - 87% of Hong Kong's population - are registered with eHealth. Over 44,000 residents have used the platform to enable cross-boundary sharing of medical records.
Monthly deposits of electronic health records by private healthcare providers rose more than 110% over the past year to about 1.45 million. "The government will further facilitate the deposit of EHRs by private healthcare providers, expand the cross-boundary sharing of medical records and enhance the nine core functions, including eMedication and eMedical Certificate," Hong Kong chief executive John Lee said in his 2026 Policy Address.
Communicable disease control goes digital
The plan also calls for digital transformation of the communicable disease prevention and control system. An integrated epidemic management system with emergency response capabilities will support more precise risk assessment, alongside stronger monitoring, early warning and response. The government intends to expand information sharing, technology collaboration and training with disease control institutions in mainland China and overseas.
Healthcare system restructuring
Lee's Policy Address emphasized broader healthcare reform, restructuring functions and the division of work among the HA, the Department of Health and the Primary Healthcare Commission. "The goal is to establish a new healthcare model that emphasises prevention and integrates prevention with treatment," he said.
Earlier this year, the government announced an electronic antimicrobial transaction record platform to support planned legislation requiring pharmacies to digitally record antimicrobial prescriptions and dispensing transactions. Lee's 2025 Policy Address had already prioritized AI in cancer care, cross-boundary EHR sharing and expanded telehealth.
Why this matters for healthcare professionals
For clinicians and hospital administrators, the Technology Convergence Hub signals a faster pipeline for getting new tools into practice. The push to expand AI in cancer diagnostics and laboratory testing will directly affect clinical workflows, requiring staff to build competency in AI-assisted decision-making. Professionals who understand how to evaluate and integrate these technologies will be positioned to lead implementation efforts inside their institutions. For those looking to build that expertise, structured learning paths like AI for Healthcare Courses can provide the foundational knowledge needed to work effectively with emerging diagnostic and management systems.
Your membership also unlocks:
