THE FEDERATION OF MEDICAL SOCIETIES OF HONG KONG

The Evolution The establishment of the FMSHK is a response to Hong Kong's call at the end of World War II for better and quality assured medical services in Hong Kong. Leaders of our medical community saw the need to start an organization that would be responsible for promoting the advancement of knowledge and continuing education of the medical and health professionals, and for coordinating these individual professional bodies to work together in a positive and integrated manner. This concept of a federation received the support of the academic community and the Medical and Health Department of the time, as well as the then Governor, Sir David Trench. Professor C. Elaine Field (Chairman of the Federation Working Group) and dedicated founding members worked towards the Federation's establishment. On 18th February 1965, The Federation was inaugurated with Dr. the Hon. A.M. Rodrigues elected as the first President. The Hong Kong Chinese Medical Association (later to become today's Hong Kong Medical Association) and the British Medical Association (Hong Kong Branch) were founder associations, and medical and health organizations registered with the Government joined the Federation as members. Since its inauguration, the Federation has had the honour of having the Governors of Hong Kong and now the Chief Executive of the HKSAR Government as its Patrons, providing the guidance for achieving its goals and mission. The Patronage has also symbolized the continuing co-operation between the Government and the medical sector in building a better and healthier Hong Kong. Within 10 years of inception, the Federation was able to establish its own premises through Government support, and the first Medicine Directory was published in 1970. In 1986, the Federation became incorporated. The Federation Today The Federation today is a medical professional non-profit making body comprising of medical and health societies. Its membership has grown from the original 12 to the present 127 (70 full, 55 associate and 2 student members) representing more than 50,000 individual professionals in total with the following categories: Bodies representing the interest of their respective professions Specialty Societies Subspecialty Societies Procedural sub-specialties Health Administrative Groups Nurses and Midwives Therapists (Physical, Occupational and others) Pharmacologists and the Pharmaceutical Industry Medical Technologists Nutritionists Medical Legal Specialties Interest Groups within the profession Fraternity Groups within the profession. At present, the Federation has its own premises and publications, and has developed into a well-established body for the promotion of a high standard of practice by medical and health professionals in Hong Kong, as well as for the welfare, cooperation and fraternity between all specialties it embodies. At the same time, the Federation continues to refrain from involvement in political affairs. The Federation also aims to avoid the overlapping of roles and functions with its own members, as well as with other medical bodies which may also oversee professional standards, quality assurance or rights of individual professionals in Hong Kong. Commitments On 25th February 1999, the Council of the Federation published its vision, mission and value. VISION The Federation of Medical Societies of Hong Kong strives to become the representative professional body dedicated to coordinate the activities of medical and health organizations in the HKSAR and to liaise with related professional societies worldwide. MISSION The Federation of Medical Societies of Hong Kong endeavours to provide the leadership and mechanism whereby the activities of member societies can be coordinated to promote professional interests, achieve fraternity and to advance common ideals of the medical and health professions of Hong Kong. VALUE The Federation of Medical Societies of Hong Kong holds that the common interests of the medical and health professions as well as the individual interests of each member society are of paramount importance, and will strive to promote and defend them to the best of its abilities and resources.