Introduction
Overview
Established in 2010, the Department of Family Medicine and Primary Care (FMPC) was the first and only department of the discipline in Hong Kong and has grown significantly in faculty strength, curriculum scope, research capacity, and clinical services. Today, FMPC is now home to 21 academic staff, supported by over 350 honorary teachers and a dedicated team of over 27 administrative and research personnel. We draw on the expertise of family physicians worldwide including Hong Kong, Canada, China, Colombia, United Kingdom, and United States.
We are committed to excellence in medical education, research, and clinical care, equipping future and practicing doctors and other community healthcare professionals with the skills and knowledge to deliver high-quality primary care to the community.
Education and Training
FMPC provides comprehensive undergraduate and postgraduate medical education, with a strong emphasis on clinical skills, professionalism, and patient-centred care.
Undergraduate Programmes
We oversee four core Family Medicine and Primary Care programmes integrated throughout the six-year MBBS curriculum:
- Professionalism in Practice (PIP)
- Clinical Interpersonal Skills (CIPS)
- Family Medicine General Clerkship (FMGC)
- Family Medicine and Community Care (FMCC) Specialty Clerkship
Our Ap Lei Chau and Kennedy Town General Outpatient Clinics serve as the primary teaching facilities, complemented by a network of 20 family medicine teaching centres and over 100 community-based family practices. These settings provide students with real-world exposure to primary care in both public and private healthcare sectors.
Postgraduate Programmes
To support continuous professional development, FMPC offers postgraduate diploma and certificate courses for practicing family doctors, Chinese Medicine practitioners and other community healthcare professionals, ensuring they stay at the forefront of evidence-based care.
Research Excellence
FMPC is a research-intensive department, with interdisciplinary research groups in:
- Chronic Diseases and Health Service Research
- Mental Health in Primary Care
- Infectious Diseases and Health Equity
- Medical Education
We have developed expertise in:
- Big data research and advanced analytics such as AI
- Primary care quality and outcome evaluations
- Qualitative and mixed-methods health services research
- Practice-based research networks
- Randomised control trials
Our research impact is reflected in the appointment of FMPC faculty members to prestigious roles, including:
- Co-chair and members of Advisory Councils and Research Grant Executive, Hong Kong SAR Government
- Grant Review Boards and Research Assessment Panels
- World Health Organization Advisory Committees shaping global healthcare policy
With over 40 ongoing research projects, our department actively involves or collaborates with various schools and institutions within and beyond the LKS Faculty of Medicine, including:
- Bau Institute of Medical and Health Sciences Education (BIMHSE)
- School of Public Health
- School of Nursing
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacy
- Department of Medicine
- Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine
- Faculty of Engineering
- Department of Psychiatry
Internationally, we are involved in Research, Education and Mental Health Working Parties, and founded the Health Equity Interest Group in WONCA (World Family Doctors’ Association). We also work with colleagues and institutions in Australia, Canada, China Europe, South Africa, South America, UK and USA.
International Advisory Board (2025):
- Prof Michael Kidd, Global Primary Care and Future Health Systems, Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK (MK); The International Centre for Future Health Systems, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
- Prof Martin Roland, Emeritus Professor, Health Service Research Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, England, UK.
Clinical Services and Impacts
FMPC provides regular clinical services at:
- Ap Lei Chau General Outpatient Clinic (GOAL)
- Kennedy Town General Outpatient Clinic (GOKT)
- Gleneagles Hospital Hong Kong
- Kwai Tsing District Health Centre (DHC)
- Central & Western DHC Express
- Yau Tsim Mong DHC Express
- The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital (HKUSZH) (Shenzhen, China)
Both GOAL and GOKT are accredited training sites for structured Family Medicine training, serving as benchmarks for excellence in primary care.
Our clinical initiatives emphasize:
- Evidence-based, patient-centred care
- Integration of biopsychosocial approaches to care for the whole-person
- Innovations in disease management and shared care
- Addressing health inequalities
We were pioneers in:
- Implementing the ICPC-2 classification system for primary care encounters to facilitate big data and further AI research
- Introducing chronic disease prediction models for health promotion and better clinical careThanks
- Developing transdisciplinary medico-socio-legal integration
- Promoting judicious use of medical interventions, reducing unnecessary intravenous treatments, investigations, and medications
FMPC faculty members play leadership roles and have made contributions in various government task forces, advisory panels, ministries of health, and international professional organizations, including the World Health Organization (WHO), World Bank and World Organization of Family Doctors (WONCA).
Our Vision
We aim to be academic leaders in Family Medicine and Primary Care with the goal of impacting health care policy, medical education, and clinical research locally, nationally, and internationally.
Our Mission
To promote patient-centred, comprehensive primary care through Family Medicine education, research, collaboration, knowledge exchange, and innovative clinical services.
Strategic Goals (2023-2027)
Aligned with The University of Hong Kong and the Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, our strategic objectives are:
- To achieve academic excellence through innovation in teaching, learning, and research.
- To nurture humanistic doctors and scholars who are committed to the highest standards of care and professionalism.
- To enhance the quality of primary care and the health of individuals and families through translational, interdisciplinary research, and service innovation.
- To serve society through knowledge exchange and partnership with the community.
- To be a national and international leader for education and research in family medicine and primary care, and raise the global presence and visibility of the University, the Faculty and the Department of Family Medicine and Primary Care.
Our Journey
Our roots date back to 1985, when we established the General Practice Unit under the Department of Medicine at The University of Hong Kong. At that time, our team consisted of just two academic staff and offered fewer than 20 hours of student contact time in the MBBS curriculum.
Milestones in Our Growth
- 1985-Present: The Hong Kong College of Family Physicians (HKCFP) Visiting Professorship in Family Medicine has brought globally renowned scholars to mentor and guide our research development.
- 1998: Renamed as the Family Medicine Unit, expanding our faculty, curriculum scope, and research focus.
- 2010: Official establishment of the Department of Family Medicine and Primary Care (FMPC) at LKS Faculty of Medicine.
- 2012: Introduction of the Professionalism in Practice (PIP) Programme, which has become an international model in medical education.
- 2012: Establishment of the Department of Family Medicine at HKUSZH, pioneering a new general practice-led service model in China.
- 2012: Establishment of the Danny D. B. Ho Endowed Professorship in Family Medicine to commemorate HKU’s centenary.
- 2024: Appointment of an Emeritus Professorship in Family Medicine.
Through education, research, and clinical innovation, FMPC remains committed to advancing Family Medicine and Primary Care, shaping the future of medical education, healthcare policy, and patient care—both locally and globally.
Looking Ahead
As we continue to evolve, we remain dedicated to:
- Enhancing medical education and clinical training
- Pioneering research that improves primary care outcomes
- Strengthening community partnerships and policy influence
