How Clinical Data Access Is Changing the Face of HK Healthcare

The future of healthcare is driven by data, and Hong Kong wants to place itself at the forefront of this revolution.

In a collaboration, the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP) and the Hospital Authority (HA) have united to establish the HKSTP HA Data Collaboration Lab at the Hong Kong Science Park. This innovative setup grants over 1,400 Park companies and partners exclusive access to anonymized clinical data from approximately 200,000 HA patients.

Scheduled for launch in October 2023, this lab will serve as the maiden gateway to HA's extensive database for non-academic research and development. This endeavor promises to catalyze groundbreaking biomedical and healthcare transformations, directly enhancing healthcare quality and capacity in the region.

Initially, access to such data was exclusive to academic research at select locations. The inauguration of this lab marks an expansion of the user base, embracing not just academia but the broader industry. It also underscores HKSTP's ambition to transform Hong Kong into a global innovation and technology nexus.

Albert Wong, chief executive officer of HKSTP, emphasized the significance of this collaboration. "HKSTP HA Data Collaboration Lab is a game-changing addition to HKSTP's innovation and technology (I&T) ecosystem. Seamless data collaboration among hospitals, academia, and the industry will fuel Hong Kong's healthcare transformation and digital economy ambitions. With the support of the new HKSTP HA Data Collaboration Lab, we look forward to witnessing the birth of more breakthrough technologies by our Park companies as they seek to positively impact lives across the globe."

Ensuring meticulous data protection, the collaboration prioritizes the privacy of clinical records. Patient anonymity remains uncompromised from strict onsite security to an isolated network and non-downloadable data sets. Further buttressing this commitment, two dedicated governance committees oversee data protection, privacy, and research ethics.

Tony Ko, chief executive of Hospital Authority, shared the enthusiasm. “Our partnership with HKSTP is another major step in our collective goal with the government to provide wider industry access to clinical data and drive collaboration and innovation. This is a big moment in our mission to accelerate healthcare transformation and elevate Hong Kong’s healthcare capacity and quality at all levels.”

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