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The Hong Kong College of Medicine was established in 1887 for the purpose of training local Chinese in Western Medicine. Its founders' pioneering effort was amongst the earliest in Southeast Asia. The College of Medicine was subsequently incorporated as the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Hong Kong (HKU), which was founded in 1912, and continued as the only institution for the training of undergraduate medical students for the next seven decades. In this regard, it was joined in 1980 by the Faculty of Medicine of the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK).
Postgraduate training in Internal Medicine in Hong Kong used to follow the traditional practice in the United Kingdom (UK). An apprentice system of practical learning in academic units or medical units in public hospitals, with appropriate supervision for a period of two or three years, would qualify a candidate to sit the MRCP examination in the UK and gain recognition as a specialist in Medicine. Since the 1970s, the MRCP examination, which can be taken after two years of clinical experience, has become an entry requirement of the Royal Colleges for further training in the subspecialties. As a further development in the mid-1990s, UK has commenced the award of a Certificate of Completion of Specialist Training (CCST) on exit from an approved training programme lasting not less than four years after MRCP (i.e. two years pre- and fours years post-MRCP). Since 1985, the entire (Parts I & II) MRCP (UK) examination can be taken in Hong Kong once a year in October for specialist training. Local doctors enrol in overseas training programmes such as those in the UK, Australia and USA. This period of overseas training was then followed by further in-service and/or self-learning experience when they were back in Hong Kong. Against this background, the Hong Kong College of Physicians was established in October 1986, as a pioneering endeavor by the Specialists in Internal Medicine in Hong Kong. Key objectives of the Hong Kong College of Physicians are --
Since the formation of the Hong Kong Academy of Medicine in August 1993, the Hong Kong College of Physicians has been bestowed statutorially defined responsibilities in relation to training, assessment, and continuing medical education. Structured Postgraduate Medical Training in Internal Medicine Basic Physician Training (BPT), which lasts for a minimum of three years, aims at a broad-based training in General Internal Medicine. Experience in other disciplines which interact with internal Medicine and which enriches the trainees is also encouraged and can be accredited. Trainees are continuously assessed throughout the training through the use of Trainee Logbook and Supervisors' assessment reports. The Intermediate Examination (HKCPIE) tests the trainees' competence in basic general medical clinical knowledge and skills, communication, ethics, and professional attributes of a physician. The MRCP(UK) serves as the Intermediate Examination of the College’s Physician Training Program. The College is represented at the Part 1 and Part 2 Boards of MRCP(UK), and jointly organizes the Part 2 PACES clinical examination in Hong Kong with the Federation of Royal Colleges of Physicians in the U.K., annually since 1985 and twice yearly since 1994, in February/March and October each year. A pass in the HKCPIE/MRCP(UK) with a minimum of three years of accredited BPT are the minimum requirements for admission as Member of the College, before one is allowed to enter into Higher Physician Training in the medical specialties. Higher Physician Training (HPT) under the College is primarily dual-specialty conducted concurrently and inclusive of a broad-based specialty such as Advanced Internal Medicine (AIM) or Geriatrics. The College emphasizes the importance of broad-based training in HPT, which is key to holistic patient care and in recognition of the pitfalls and healthcare risks of over-specialization, fragmentation, and narrow perspectives. Dual-specialty HPT is normally for a minimum of 4 years, with 24 months of Core Training in each specialty. Exceptionally, for trainees undertaking sequential HPT in the first specialty or single specialty HPT, the minimum duration is three years of structured supervised training, comprising 24 months of Core Training and 12 months of optional training. The training program of all HPT trainees requires prior approval by the respective Specialty Boards. Each trainee's progress will be judged on the basis of continuous assessment through the use of Trainee Logbook and supervisors' assessment reports, and various formats of workplace-based assessments. There is also a formal Interim Assessment and an Exit Assessment prior to completion of training. The Exit Assessment normally takes place in May/June and/or November/December each year. The trainee is required to submit a dissertation of appoximately 5,000 words and attend an oral viva examination comprised of different panels of examiners under the purview of an Assessment Board. The Assessment Board comprises the Chairman of the Specialty Board or his/ her nominee, Specialty Programme Director, a member of the Specialty Board or Education & Accreditation Committee or Examination Committee, and an External Assessor who is usually a Specialty Programme Director from another region, or an overseas expert in that specialty. Trainees who are successful at the Exit Assessment and have completed the required duration of HPT will be invited to apply for College Fellowship. The first edition of the Hong Kong College of Physicians (HKCP) Guidelines on Postgraduate Medical Training was published in July 1993 by the Joint Committee on Internal Medicine Training (JCIMT), just in time for the inauguration of the Hong Kong Academy of Medicine in December 1993 In May 1996, the Education & Accreditation Committee (E&AC) took over the function of the JCIMT, and established 12 Specialty Boards which were charged with reviewing individual Training Guidelines, appointment of trainers, overseeing trainees and their programmes, as well as accrediting Fellows in the respective specialties. With experience gained in the first years of structured training, the E&AC and Specialty Boards deliberated on and modified the 1993 JCIMT Guidelines, and the second edition of Training Guidelines was published in 1998. In general, the objectives, structure and contents of training in each specialty in the new Guidelines were similar to the previous edition. Programme structures were however more clearly defined and new specialties were added. In some specialties where certain aspects of training requiring knowledge and skills in highly technical and complex procedures, special training programmes followed by Competency Certification were introduced. Examples include: Interventional Cardiology, Blood and Marrow Stem Cell Transplantation, Therapeutic Endoscopy, etc.
Continuing Medical Education
Medicine is complex and evolving. Therefore, continued update, review and reeducation are mandatory in the profession. Medical Education does not end after Structured Postgraduate Medical Training. Continuing Medical Education (CME) is essential throughout the career of a medical practitioner. Through joining the Hong Kong Academy of Medicine as Fellow, Fellows of the College of Physicians are required to fulfil established CME requirements to maintain their names in the Specialist Register of the Hong Kong Medical Council. The same CME requirements for Specialist Registration are also applicable to non-locally trained Specialists, and their CME progress and record are managed by the College. The Specialties listed under the College of Physicians include the following:
Honorary Fellows 41 Fellows 2344 Members 360 Trainees 447 Of the 2344 College Fellows, 2249 are also Fellows of the Academy. They constitute 22.7% of all 9920 Academy Fellows as of January 2026 |
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