16 May 2026

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Inaugural IMACE Conference 2026 Concludes with Success
Bringing Together Experts from NICE and Distinguished Local Specialists to Discuss Health Economics, Technology Assessment and Clinical Guidelines

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(HONG KONG, 16 May 2026) The Institute for Medical Advancement and Clinical Excellence (IMACE), an independent and professional-led platform initiated by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, successfully convened its inaugural “IMACE Conference 2026” at the Hong Kong Academy of Medicine Jockey Club Building today. Under the theme “Health Economics, Health Technology Assessment and Clinical Guideline Development: A Belated Dialogue in Hong Kong”, the Conference brought together distinguished experts from the United Kingdom, and healthcare professionals, academics, policymakers and industry leaders from Hong Kong’s public and private healthcare sectors to explore the challenges and opportunities in Hong Kong’s healthcare system, thereby opening a new chapter in advancing evidence-based healthcare decision-making. The Conference also examined the latest trends in health economics and technology assessment, their interactions and how clinical guideline development could help unlock their full potential in Hong Kong.

 

Professor Chung-mau LO, BBS, JP, Secretary for Health, officiated as the Guest of Honour. He was joined at the Opening Ceremony by Professor Gilberto Ka-kit LEUNG, Convenor, the Institute for Medical Advancement and Clinical Excellence, alongside representatives of the IMACE’s Founding Members, including Professor Clement Chee-yung THAM, Vice-President (Education and Examinations), the Hong Kong Academy of Medicine; Dr. FUNG Ying, Controller for Regulatory Affairs, the Department of Health; Dr. Libby Ha-yun LEE, Chief Executive, the Hospital Authority; Professor Samuel Yeung-shan WONG, Associate Dean (Education), the Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong; Professor Chak-sing LAU, Dean, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong; Dr. Fei-chau PANG, Commissioner for Primary Healthcare, the Primary Healthcare Commission; and Dr. William Shiu-wei HO, JP, Former Chairman, The Hong Kong Private Hospitals Association, as well as other distinguished guests, including Dr. Hon David Tzit-yuen LAM, Legislative Council Member (Medical and Health Services) of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region;  Dr. York Yat-ngok CHOW, GBS, SBS, JP, Chief Medical Officer and Corporate Advisor, AIA International Limited; Professor Eng-kiong YEOH, GBS, JP, Research Professor, Director, Centre for Health Systems and Policy Research, The Jockey Club School of Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong; Professor David Makram BISHAI, Clinical Professor, Division Head, Division of Health Economics, Policy and Management, School of Public Health, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong; Mr. Hugh McGUIRE, Senior Adviser, and Ms. Ann GREENWOOD, Adviser, of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) of the United Kingdom, etc. Together, they witnessed this significant milestone with over 300 healthcare professionals.

 

Professor Chung-mau LO, BBS, JP, Secretary for Health, said in his address, “The HKSAR Government is carrying out healthcare reform to enhance the overall efficiency and sustainability of our healthcare system. This aligns with our country’s plan to advance the ‘Healthy China’ Initiative and implement a health-first strategy as set out in the ‘Outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development of the People’s Republic of China’ (the 15th Five-Year Plan). Under this backdrop, IMACE will have an important role to play in advancing the continuous improvement of healthcare. It will provide valuable reference for healthcare professionals, helping them make clinical decisions while taking full account of the needs of individual patients.”

 

He emphasised, “Our population is ageing rapidly, chronic diseases are becoming more prevalent, health expenditure continues to grow, and new medical technologies are constantly emerging. The question before us, therefore, is not whether we need to change, but what changes are needed and how we can carry them forward. Health economics, health technology assessment and clinical guidelines are not merely academic exercises; they are practical tools for ensuring that patients receive the most suitable care. With finite public resources, the challenge is not simply whether a new technology is promising, but how to assess its therapeutic value, cost-effectiveness and wider implications in a rigorous and balanced way.”

 

Professor Gilberto Ka-kit LEUNG, Convenor, the IMACE, remarked, “The IMACE Conference 2026 was designed to spark a much-needed and overdue dialogue in Hong Kong’s healthcare system. Due to the rising healthcare demands and increasing resource constraints, Hong Kong’s healthcare system must explore pathways to sustainability. The IMACE is developing six clinical guidelines to adopt more systematic, evidence-based approaches for identifying, evaluating and supporting cost-effective and affordable healthcare innovations. In the UK, Quality-Adjusted Life Year (QALY) is used to assess cost-effectiveness with the threshold set at around £30,000. Yet, Hong Kong, lacks a similar benchmark, making it difficult to determine the cost-effectiveness of healthcare services, although relevant data could be collected and analysed systematically. In addition, the health insurance sector has faced overtreatment, leading to rising claims costs and higher premiums. Clinical guidelines can help promote more appropriate and cost-effective healthcare arrangements. However, their application must be handled carefully to ensure that the guidelines remain authoritative, independent and patient-centred.”

 

Professor Gilberto Ka-kit LEUNG added, “By bringing together professional pioneers and experts, the Conference infused our healthcare system with fresh ideas and renewed inspiration. It helped advance clinical excellence and fostered an environment where positive global impact could flourish. Overall, it will further cement Hong Kong’s reputation as an international hub in health and medical innovation. The IMACE will carry forward the discussion initiated here, gradually evolving into a sustained platform for exchanges, promoting long-term conversations, collaboration and synergy across sections and borders, and delivering pragmatic and sustainable breakthroughs and transformations for the local healthcare system.”

 

The Conference featured a session of Plenary Lectures followed by three Thematic Sessions on “Health Economics”, “Health Technology Adoption”, and “Clinical Guideline Development”, each comprising expert presentations and panel discussions. The speaker lineup included representatives from NICE, the Hong Kong Academy of Medicine, the Department of Health, the Faculty of Medicine of The Chinese University of Hong Kong, the Hospital Authority, the LKS Faculty of Medicine of The University of Hong Kong, the Primary Healthcare Commission, The Hong Kong Private Hospitals Association, and The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. The panellists engaged in in-depth discussions on key issues, including future-proof hospital services and the adoption of new technologies; financing health and long term care in Hong Kong: challenges and the way forward; the application and role of health technology assessment in public sector; the development of clinical guidelines that are both internationally aligned and locally relevant, etc., offering multi-faceted perspectives on the pathway to sustainability in Hong Kong’s healthcare system.

 

Mr. Hugh McGUIRE, Senior Adviser, and Ms. Ann GREENWOOD, Adviser, from NICE, shared the United Kingdom’s over 25 years of valuable experience in health economics and clinical guideline development respectively. In the “Health Economics” session, Mr. Hugh McGUIRE analysed how economic considerations are integrated into the guideline development process in NICE, including the application methods such as cost-effectiveness analysis, Quality-Adjusted Life Year (QALY) and Incremental Cost-Effectiveness Ratio (ICER). In the “Clinical Guideline Development” session, Ms. Ann GREENWOOD shared NICE’s continuous refinement of the guideline development process in order to help identify and scale up effective treatments, improve clinical decision-making, and utilise resources efficiently.

 

The successful convening of the IMACE Conference 2026 marks a milestone for the IMACE’s efforts to foster dialogues and development within Hong Kong’s healthcare system. The IMACE will continue to work closely with its Founding Members, including the Hong Kong Academy of Medicine, which established the Secretariat to support its operations. It also looks forward to engaging new partners and collectively advancing evidence-based medical practice for the benefit of patients and healthcare professionals.

 

 

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