Allergy in Hong Kong: an unmet need in service provision and training

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Allergy and Immunology
• Healthcare Policy

Background:

• Rising trends in allergic diseases among Hong Kong children present a persistent clinical burden into adulthood.
• Despite a high-quality healthcare system, Hong Kong has a critical deficit in allergy services and specialist training.
• The scarcity of allergy specialists, particularly for adults, and limited laboratory support highlight systemic weaknesses.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the current state of allergy services and specialist availability in Hong Kong.
• To identify critical gaps in allergy care and training within the public healthcare sector.
• To propose actionable recommendations for improving allergy and immunology services.

Main Methods:

• Epidemiological data analysis of allergic diseases in Hong Kong.
• Assessment of current healthcare infrastructure for allergy and immunology.
• Review of specialist-to-population ratios for allergists.

Main Results:

• A severe shortage of allergy specialists exists, with ratios significantly lower than international benchmarks.
• Paediatric allergists dedicate only a fraction of their time to allergy, and adult allergy services are virtually non-existent in public hospitals.
• Laboratory support for allergy and immunology is limited, with only one public sector laboratory supervised by accredited immunologists.

Conclusions:

• The findings indicate profound implications for the healthcare profession and community in Hong Kong, necessitating immediate intervention.
• Recommendations include establishing pilot allergy centers using a hub-and-spoke model within the public sector.
• Addressing the specialist shortage may require international recruitment to develop essential allergy services.