Volume 24, Number 2: February 2023
HKSPN’s current council members (left to right): Dr. Jerry HO Chun-wing (Hon Secretary), Hospital Authority; Dr. Louisa LUI Cheuk-yu, Union Hospital; Dr. LAM Wai-man, Dr. Steven SIU Wai-kwan, Dr. Raymond LO See-kit, Dr. YUEN Kwok-keung (Vice-chairman), Dr. Inda SOONG Sung (Chairman), Dr. Annie KWOK Oi Ling (Vice-chairman), Dr. Jeffrey NG Sheung-ching, Dr. LAM Po-tin, Dr. Benjamin CHENG Hon-wai, all with the Hospital Authority; Dr. Johnny LAU Kin-sang, HEAL Oncology; and Dr. CHEN Wai-tsan, Haven of Hope Sister Annie Skau Holistic Care Centre.
Strength in Numbers: HKSPM’s success spans 25 years
By Dr. Inda SOONG Sung
Chairman, Hong Kong Society of Palliative Medicine
The Hong Kong Society of Palliative Medicine is a nonprofit, professional organization established in May 1997. The society firmly holds these key values: “People with advanced incurable illness have a right to quality palliative care. We are committed to provide care and support to them and their families, aiming to meet different human needs—physical, psychological, social, and spiritual—and even extending the care into the bereavement period. Dying is a natural process and we do not hasten death or postpone it.”
A spirit of solidarity prevails
The society has about 200 members, including doctors, nurses, and allied health professionals working at the forefront of medical care in Hong Kong in both the public and private sectors. They carry in their hands the expertise, and the understanding, of applying palliative care to patients. The key spirits of solidarity, creativity, enthusiasm, and dedication have been cultivated among members since the society’s foundation.
The society relies on the continuation and fostering of these fundamental spirits to sustain its mission of providing education and professional training, conducting clinical research, and promulgation of palliative care to both health care professionals of different specialties as well as the general public in Hong Kong.
A milestone to celebrate
The Hong Kong Society of Palliative Medicine marked its 25th anniversary in 2022. Looking back at efforts made throughout the past quarter-century, we feel thankful that palliative care today is part of standard medical service provision by the Hospital Authority, a public institution that dominates public sector care, sets policy, and has steered local palliative care development.
The Hospital Authority collaborates with our society to provide regular palliative care training to health care workers, many of whom are eager to learn and who share our vision of palliative care. Its recognition of palliative care in the hospital service strategic framework, and the realization of palliative care-related service guidelines at the workplace, such as advance directives, advance care planning, and a policy of “do not attempt cardiopulmonary resuscitation” (DNACPR), are joint efforts, including clinical leaders in the field who are also our members.
We are also grateful for opportunities we have had to work with other professional bodies, such as the Hong Kong College of Family Physicians, Federation of Medical Societies of Hong Kong, Society for the Promotion of Hospice Care, and many others, to extend the training network to different medical specialties and to connect with the general public to promote palliative care advocacy.
We look forward to the continual growth and development of our society. We invite you to browse our website to learn more about our exciting endeavors.
Dr. Soong was named Chair of the Hong Kong Society of Palliative Medicine in 2021. His term ends in 2023.
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