In Q1 2025, U.S. tariff impositions heightened trade tensions and financial volatility, prompting the IMF to lower its 2025 global growth forecast to 2.8%. Recent suspension of select tariffs and bilateral negotiations have since provided cautious economic relief. This global disruption might continue to exert significant pressure on the public.

Hong Kong's real GDP grew 3.1% year-on-year in Q2 2025, driven by a rebound in private consumption (1.9%) and strong export growth. The exports of goods surged 11.5% amid pre-tariff demand, while the exports of services increased 12.7% supported by tourism and financial sectors. However, renewed US tariffs and the uncertain timing of interest rate cuts continue to cloud near-term economic prospects. The above economic uncertainties might heighten stress among the public, particularly those whose mental health is affected.

Hong Kong has the world’s highest life expectancy, with its population aged 65 and above projected to grow from 20.5% (1.45 million) in 2021 to 36% (2.74 million) by 2046. This demographic shift intensifies pressure on public healthcare, increasing demand for healthcare and long-term care services. Chronic diseases already affected 31% of the population (2.2 million), nearly half of whom are elderly.

Hypertension and diabetes are most prevalent, with chronic patients expected to reach 3 million by 2039, highlighting the urgent need for expanded healthcare capacity and infrastructure.

Hong Kong has strengthened collaboration with cities in the Greater Bay Area (GBA) to integrate cross-border healthcare services. This initiative seeks to stimulate sectoral growth, enhance talent development, and improve residents’ access to health and care across borders. Key measures include:

Drugs, Pharmacy & Medical Devices

• Facilitates cross-boundary use of data, drugs, and devices via the GBA Clinical Trial Platform and Application Centre in the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone.
• Under the Special Measure of using Hong Kong Registered Drugs and Medical Devices used in Hong Kong Public Hospitals in GBA, designated GBA healthcare institutions may use Hong Kong–registered drugs and medical devices for urgent clinical needs with Guangdong approval. As of October 2025, 61 drugs and 73 devices were approved across 45 institutions.
• The Hong Kong Centre for Medical Products Regulation will be established by end-2026 to enhance oversight of medical products (including Western/Chinese medicines and medical devices), expedite its clinical use, thereby driving the development of industries relating to R&D and testing of medical products.

Chinese Medicine (CM)

• The Government Chinese Medicines Testing Institute collaborates with Mainland institutions to promote the development of Chinese medicine testing and reference standards, and to deepen exchanges and cooperation.

• Streamlined approval allows Hong Kong registered proprietary Chinese medicines to enter the Chinese Mainland market; by October 2025, 17 products (16 external use, 1 oral) were approved for sale.

Meeting Medical Needs of Hong Kong Residents

• The Elderly Health Care Voucher Pilot Scheme now covers nine GBA cities for outpatient services.

• The Pilot Scheme for Supporting Patients of the Hospital Authority in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area extends to March 2026 to subsidise eligible Hospital Authority patients at HKU-Shenzhen Hospital to receive subsidised consultations.

• Hong Kong residents can enroll in basic social insurance; local insurance companies offer GBA medical coverage extensions.

Manpower Training, Exchange & Recruitment

• HKU-SZH and CUHK-Shenzhen provide HK-standard training, joint programs, and telemedicine initiatives.

• The Government collaborates with GBA partners for specialist training of an international standard; the Hospital Authority offers GBA Healthcare Talents Programmes to promote training and exchanges for healthcare professionals.

• Under CEPA, eligible Hong Kong Chinese Medicine Practitioners can provide short-term services in the Chinese Mainland without taking qualification exams.

Hong Kong faces a critical shortage of healthcare professionals, with the Hospital Authority reporting 2024 attrition rates of 5.2% for doctors, 7.5% for nurses, and 12% for support staff. The doctor-to-population ratio remains low at 2.16 per 1,000 people, well below that of most advanced economies.

Residential care homes (RCHs) for the elderly (RCHEs) and residential care homes for people with disabilities (RCHDs) also struggle to retain care professionals, as these roles are often perceived as unprofessional, with a lack of clear career progression. Additionally, after spending time in the welfare sector, some nurses have switched to the medical sector to advance their careers, exacerbating service gaps amid rising demand from an ageing population.

Elderly care and rehabilitation units face workforce ageing, with many caregivers nearing retirement. These roles require physical strength for personal care, rehabilitation, and support tasks. Declining physical capacity reduces hands-on care and increases injury risk, challenging the maintenance of service quality in Hong Kong’s residential care homes.

Cross-border healthcare consumption among Hong Kong residents is rising, covering dental care, health screenings, and lab services. A recent study shows that 30% of respondents sought healthcare services in the Chinese Mainland, over 90% in Shenzhen. Dental care (66.3%) and health checks (29.8%) are the most popular, driven by lower costs and shorter waiting times. Following government initiatives like Elderly Health Care Vouchers GBA Pilot Scheme, and e-health records, this trend is expected to further increase.

To strengthen primary healthcare services in Hong Kong, the Government is taking the following measures:

Development of Community-based Primary Healthcare System

• Develop District Health Centres, expand the service scope of the Chronic Disease Co-Care Pilot Scheme, establish a Community Drug Formulary, and launch a Community Pharmacy Programme.

• Provide primary dental care for adolescents and underprivileged groups.

• Enhance maternal and child health services and health promotion across life stages.

• Release a Chinese Medicine Development Blueprint; the Chinese Medicine Hospital will commence services in phases starting on 11 December 2025.

Manpower Development

• Establish a third medical school to cultivate healthcare professionals; the Hospital Authority (HA) to actively attract, train, and retain talent through the Global Healthcare Talent Scheme and GBA Healthcare Talent Visiting Programme.

• Explore admitting qualified non-locally trained supplementary medical professionals to work in the Department of Health and HA.

• Offer talent import schemes to attract healthcare professionals from all over the world (e.g., Top Talent Pass Scheme, Quality Migrant Admission Scheme, General Employment Policy, and Admission Scheme for Mainland Talents and Professionals).

• Subsidise training schemes and programmes for care staff in the welfare sector; introduce a Special Import Scheme for Care Workers.

• Establish a new ‘Health&Care Practitioners’ rank to support health and care procedures in the welfare sector.

The COVID-19 pandemic heightened health awareness in Hong Kong, driving purchases of health supplements and boosting interest in immunity. Yet, previous pandemic-related restrictions also led to unhealthy habits (i.e., poor diets and physical inactivity), increasing non-communicable disease (NCD) risks. To address this, the Government launched "TOWARD 2025: Strategy and Action Plan to Prevent and Control NCD in Hong Kong”, which outlined strategic directions and a list of specific actions to address key risk factors for NCD.

Personalised healthcare is gaining traction, shifting from a ‘one-size-fits-all’ model to tailored interventions based on individual risk profiles. Local private hospitals now offer advanced screenings, genetic testing, and DNA-based nutrition and fitness plans, reflecting a move toward precision health management.

Mental health is a growing concern in Hong Kong due to socio-political changes, post-pandemic stress, and economic pressures. Studies show high rates of anxiety, depression, and stress across all ages. The demand for psychiatric services has risen significantly, with Hospital Authority patients increasing from 270,700 (2019-20) to 305,700 (2023-24). The Government responds with an integrated and multi-disciplinary approach, including promotion, prevention, early identification, timely intervention and treatment, and rehabilitation.

Hong Kong’s public healthcare is increasingly using AI to improve diagnosis, treatment, and efficiency. The Hospital Authority leverages generative AI for clinical data summarisation, image analysis, and demand forecasting, enhancing decision-making, reducing errors, and boosting clinical and administrative productivity.

Hong Kong, supported by the 14th Five-Year Plan, leverages top research facilities (including eight State Key Laboratories and 16 InnoHK labs) to drive interdisciplinary R&D in biomedicine, AI, and robotics. Currently, over 300 biotech firms focus on biopharmaceuticals, diagnostics, medical devices, and traditional Chinese medicine, spanning R&D to commercialisation.

Health technology developments include telehealth, smart hospitals, genetic diagnostics, robotic surgery and 5G-enabled solutions that enhance service delivery and accessibility. Gerontechnology further supports ageing-in-place through remote monitoring, smart devices, and rental services, improving the elderly’s quality of life while reducing caregiver burden.