Tak-Hong Lee1, Ting-Fan Leung2, Gary Wong2, Marco Ho3, Jaime Rosa Duque3, Philip Hei Li4, Chak-Sing Lau4, Wai-Fan Lam5, Adrian Wu5, Eric Chan6, Christopher Lai5, Yu-Lung Lau3. 1. Allergy Centre, Hong Kong Sanatorium and Hospital, Happy Valley, Hong Kong. 2. Department of Paediatrics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, Hong Kong. 3. Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Queen Mary Hospital, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong. 4. Division of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong. 5. Private practice, Hong Kong. 6. Department of Pathology, Queen Mary Hospital, Pokfulam, Hong Kong.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: There is a high and rising prevalence of many allergic diseases in the Asia Pacific, including Hong Kong (HK), which is unmatched by a commensurate provision of clinical allergy services. METHOD: This review highlights progress and deficiencies in allergy service and training in HK. The allergy work force was estimated from the numbers of doctors practicing allergy registered with the HK Medical Council Specialist Register in Immunology and Allergy; Paediatric Immunology and Infectious Diseases (includes allergy); Paediatrics; and Immunology (as a discipline of Pathology). The numbers of trainees were estimated from the trainee lists of the Hong Kong Colleges of Physicians, Paediatrics and Pathology. The numbers of allergy clinics were estimated from existing services in Hospital Authority public hospitals in HK. RESULTS: In the last 3 years, two new drug allergy clinics have been established in public hospitals, and for the first time in 20 years, Hong Kong has a trainee in adult allergy. The current ratio of allergists per head of population has improved slightly from 1:1.46 million in 2014 to 1:1.17 million, but it is still low compared to many countries. There are 5-fold more paediatric allergists than adult allergists per head of population in HK. DISCUSSION: Hong Kong is not equipped to take advantage of major public health advances in allergy prevention. If the unbalance of adult to paediatric allergists remains uncorrected, continuing care for allergic children as they grow into adulthood will be an increasing problem. CONCLUSION: Hong Kong still has an unmet need for allergy specialists and is ill equipped to exploit recently discovered public health opportunities to prevent allergy. This review provides recommendations to improve allergy service provision and training, including the creation of Centres of Excellence in allergy to drive the growth of the specialty.
INTRODUCTION: There is a high and rising prevalence of many allergic diseases in the Asia Pacific, including Hong Kong (HK), which is unmatched by a commensurate provision of clinical allergy services. METHOD: This review highlights progress and deficiencies in allergy service and training in HK. The allergy work force was estimated from the numbers of doctors practicing allergy registered with the HK Medical Council Specialist Register in Immunology and Allergy; Paediatric Immunology and Infectious Diseases (includes allergy); Paediatrics; and Immunology (as a discipline of Pathology). The numbers of trainees were estimated from the trainee lists of the Hong Kong Colleges of Physicians, Paediatrics and Pathology. The numbers of allergy clinics were estimated from existing services in Hospital Authority public hospitals in HK. RESULTS: In the last 3 years, two new drug allergy clinics have been established in public hospitals, and for the first time in 20 years, Hong Kong has a trainee in adult allergy. The current ratio of allergists per head of population has improved slightly from 1:1.46 million in 2014 to 1:1.17 million, but it is still low compared to many countries. There are 5-fold more paediatric allergists than adult allergists per head of population in HK. DISCUSSION: Hong Kong is not equipped to take advantage of major public health advances in allergy prevention. If the unbalance of adult to paediatric allergists remains uncorrected, continuing care for allergicchildren as they grow into adulthood will be an increasing problem. CONCLUSION: Hong Kong still has an unmet need for allergy specialists and is ill equipped to exploit recently discovered public health opportunities to prevent allergy. This review provides recommendations to improve allergy service provision and training, including the creation of Centres of Excellence in allergy to drive the growth of the specialty.
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