Strengthening Public Health Capacity in Hong Kong: A New Model of Education

In the WFPHA conference in Istanbul we described our plans to develop the first undergraduate programme in Public Health in Hong Kong. This initiative was part of the response to the experience of SARS which highlighted the need for a greater focus on public health not only in Hong Kong but across the world. Internationally there has been a strengthening of public health systems and a plethora of initiatives and reviews of the current situation  However, the lack of capacity to implement public health programmes, particularly those integrated with primary care, remains a stumbling block to effective reorientation of health services to deliver community based care. In our previous paper we argued this was due in part to outdated modes of education, training and career development – particularly reliance on the medical model and we described our proposals to address this capacity gap.

Stepping into the third year of our undergraduate programme, this paper will build on the experience to date. We present the results of their expectations and their future aspirations collected from first three years Public Health undergraduate students at entry to the course and of the final years expectations as the course completes. Implications for future career pathways from the perspective of students and potential employers will also be described, including the challenge posed to the prevailing Public Health paradigm.

In response to the increasing importance of public health in the Asia region, we will discuss the undergraduate education model in the context for public health skills and the potential for future changes in the community based workforce, which will not only increase multidisciplinarity but also strengthen the interface and understanding between public health and primary health care.