HKCH set up the Committee on Service for Diverse Ethnicities to better support patient families of different races through collaboration among medical, nursing, allied health, pharmacy, medical social service, IT and administrative units.

Unique challenges in seeking medical services

Dr Fung Cheuk-wing, the committee’s co-chairperson, pointed out that language barriers make it harder for ethnic minority patients to understand complex medical conditions and treatments, “Sometimes parents say they understand everything being told. However, at the next clinic appointment, we find out that they actually fail to bring their children to necessary investigations. This could delay diagnosis or treatment”. To facilitate communication, the hospital provides interpretation service and is working to translate important information distributed to parents, such as fasting instructions for anaesthesia and steps to take chemotherapy medicines at home, into Hindi, Nepali and Urdu.

▲ Dr Fung Cheuk-wing (left) conducts examinations and explains a patient's condition with the help of an interpreter. The team also uses pictograms to guide families on taking medicines and medical nutrition products to reduce confusion and potential risks.

Dr Kiran Belaramani, another co-chairperson emphasized the importance of respecting different cultures and religions, “In Chinese culture, it is inauspicious to visit the hospital during Lunar New Year. Other ethnicities also have their own customs. We should be more aware of them and make reasonable arrangements for our patients. For example, Muslims follow a strict fast from dawn to sunset every day during Ramadan, so we would avoid scheduling non-urgent follow-up appointments or procedures to minimize their travelling and physical exertion.”

▲ A calendar listing the festivals of various religions is distributed to help staff schedule appointments and procedures for patients with different cultural backgrounds.

Beyond medical services, the hospital offers diverse meal options including vegetarian and Halal food, prayer room facilities and multilingual TV channels to make patients’ hospital stay more convenient and comfortable.

Father of a Pakistani patient Hanzalah expressed appreciation, “Thank you for the care and proactive support from all the healthcare staff. We really feel being respected.”

Enhancing staff sensitivity

The committee organizes talks and training sessions to raise the cultural awareness and sensitivity of healthcare staff. A one-stop intranet platform is also set up to give them easy access to reference materials related to diverse ethnicities, such as communication tools and translated education leaflets.

Both doctors look forward to organizing health talks for families of diverse ethnicities and exchanging experiences with other hospitals to improve the healthcare for these communities together.