Replies to LegCo questions

LCQ1: Organ transplant centres under the HA

Following is a question by the Dr Hon Tang Siu-tong and a reply by the Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food, Dr Yeoh Eng-kiong, in the Legislative Council today (December 17):

Question :

On 27th of last month, the Hospital Authority (HA) decided that all liver transplant operations would in future be carried out in Queen Mary Hospital and the liver transplant centre in Prince of Wales Hospital (PWH) would be closed down. Regarding HA's various organ transplant centres, will the Government inform this Council whether it knows:

(a) if HA has conducted prior consultations with the doctors working in the liver transplant centre in PWH, patients' rights groups and those patients waiting to undergo liver transplant operations in PWH; if so, of the results of the consultations; if not, the reasons for that;

(b) the reasons for HA members or management turning down the proposal of using donations from the public to subsidise the liver transplant centre in PWH; and

(c) if HA has any further plan to merge other organ transplant centres; if so, of the details of the plan?

Reply :

(a) In January 2003, the Hospital Authority (HA) decided to -

(1) establish a central registry for liver transplantation as a first step; and

(2) subsequently, to centralise liver transplant operations in the Queen Mary Hospital (QMH).

The decision was taken in the light and in consideration of the following -

*�H first, the recommendations made by a panel of international experts engaged by the HA to review the organisation and further development of acute surgical services in public hospitals, including liver transplantation. The Panel made a recommendation in 2000 that the provision of highly specialised and complex services such as liver transplants should be concentrated in one designated centre so as to enhance the clinical outcome of relevant operations in Hong Kong. In December 2002, HA invited the panel of international experts to review the position again and the panel maintained its previous recommendation; and

*�H secondly, the recommendations of a local panel engaged by HA to conduct an internal review of its liver transplant services. The local panel comprised three senior consultant surgeons independent of the two teaching hospitals. It came up with the same recommendation as that of the panel of international experts.

The decision to establish a central registry for liver transplantation and to centralise all liver transplant operations in QMH was made in consultation with the hospital management of QMH and PWH, and the Faculty of Medicine of both the University of Hong Kong and the Chinese University of Hong Kong.

We have also consulted the patients concerned before combining the two lists. In January 2003, a special meeting was convened to hear their concerns and to address them. The two liver transplant waiting lists were combined and the central liver transplant registry was put into operation in late July 2003. The liver patient groups were informed of this progress at around the same time. In late November 2003, a meeting was further convened to brief the patient representatives of the progress of centralisation of liver transplant centres.

At the meeting of the Administrative and Operational Meeting of the HA held on November 27, 2003, the progress in the implementation of the decision was reported to HA Board members.

(b) The Government and the HA welcome donations from members of the public for funding hospital services. The HA learnt about the said possible donation through a patient group and is seeking information on details of the proposed donation. The proposed donation has so far not been formally made to the HA.

(c) The HA has no plan for the time being to merge other organ transplant centres but will keep abreast of international developments on how best to deliver complex surgical services, including transplant services, and to make use of expertise in this regard, to ensure that the deliver of service will serve the best interest of our patients.

Ends/Wednesday, December 17, 2003
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