Hong Kong urged to expand role in national medical research, breakthroughs

Hong Kong is expected to play a greater role in major national clinical research projects and scientific breakthroughs, a mainland health official has said, pledging stronger support for local researchers at an annual medical conference.The remarks were made by a National Health Commission official at the Hospital Authority Convention on Monday, where the authority’s chief also pledged to introduce more efficient service pathways and smart hospital initiatives to improve healthcare services.The three-day conference is expected to draw more than 9,000 local, mainland and overseas healthcare professionals and academics. The authority also shared the results of a pilot programme offering palliative care to younger cancer patients in the city.