Hong Kong is allowing doctors to hold positions at both public hospitals and the city’s two medical schools under a new “dual-track” pathway that the government has called a “breakthrough” in boosting the education and research talent pool.

Secretary for Health Lo Chung-mau said on Monday that the mechanism provided a “more fitting development pathway” for talent to engage in medical, teaching and research work compared with previous arrangements.

The framework also provided stronger support for their teaching and research duties, including conferring the title of university professor, he added.

“This arrangement signifies a breakthrough of institutional framework through collaboration between the [Hospital Authority] and the two local medical schools to train and retain medical, teaching and research talent,” Lo said.

“I hope that the dual-track development pathway will enable more doctors who aspire to engage in medical, teaching and research work to realise their ambitions and contribute to Hong Kong’s medical innovation and research while providing clinical services to patients.”

The new arrangement involves a collaboration between the Health Bureau and Hospital Authority and the two medical schools at the University of Hong Kong (HKU) and the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK).