The Macau Special Administrative Region (MSAR) government has signed an agreement with Peking Union Medical College Hospital (aka Beijing Xiehe Hospital) formalising the latter’s upcoming operation and management of the public hospital complex in Cotai, officially known as Islands Healthcare Complex.
The agreement was signed by both sides at Government Headquarters on Friday, according to a Government Information Bureau (GCS) statement that day.
“Islands” is the official term for Taipa, Coloane and Cotai together.
The Macau government announced in late 2021 that it had decided to commission Peking Union Medical College Hospital (굇쑴協뵨醫牘) to operate the Cotai hospital complex, which is now scheduled to start operating in phases at the end of this year.
“Xiehe” directly translated, means “harmony”.
The whole Cotai hospital project has two phases – six buildings in the first phase and one in the second phase.
The construction of various buildings of the Islands Healthcare Complex has been completed, except for a central laboratory building, the construction of which is now slated to be completed next month, as well as the second phase’s rehabilitation hospital, the construction of which has still not got off the ground.
The Macau Legislative Assembly (AL) last month passed the outline of a government-initiated bill regulating the management of the Cotai hospital complex, which proposes that the MSAR government will ensure that the operation of the Islands Healthcare Complex will be sufficiently financed, while Peking Union Medical College Hospital will be responsible for operating and managing the Cotai hospital complex, through its “brand” and medical techniques, in collaboration with the MSAR government.
The Cotai hospital complex’s operation will be overseen by the secretary for social affairs and culture, according to the bill, which is being reviewed article-by-article by one of the legislature’s standing committees after last month’s passage of its outline.
According to Friday’s GCS statement, the cooperation agreement was signed by Macau Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture Elsie Ao Ieong U and Peking Union Medical College Hospital President Zhang Shuyang.
According to the agreement, Friday’s statement said, the MSAR government will have a long-term cooperation with Peking Union Medical College Hospital, in various fields such as healthcare, medical education, scientific research and the transformation of its results, international exchanges, and the development of a big health sector.
The statement also noted that Peking Union Medical College Hospital will be responsible for operating the Cotai hospital complex, through its “brand”, medical techniques and management team, in collaboration with the MSAR government.
The Macau government has underlined that the Cotai hospital complex will be operated as a public hospital.
Before the signing of the cooperation agreement, Macau Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng had a meeting with Peking Union Medical College Hospital Honorary President Zhao Yupei at Government Headquarters, according to Friday’s GCS statement.
During Friday’s meeting, Ho pointed out that the Macau government decided to commission Peking Union Medical College Hospital to operate and manage the Cotai hospital complex after considering the National Health Commission’s (NHC) suggestion.
Zhao, also an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), said during Friday’s meeting that his hospital’s management team “has developed a deep friendship” with Macau through its collaboration with the MSAR government for the upcoming operation of the Cotai hospital complex, according to the statement.
Macau Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture Elsie Ao Ieong U (right, front) and Peking Union Medical College Hospital President Zhang Shuyang (left, front) sign a cooperation agreement on the Cotai hospital complex’s operation, at Government Headquarters on Friday, witnessed by Macau Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng (centre, back), Peking Union Medical College Hospital Honorary President Zhao Yupei (left, back), and Li Wei, a deputy director of the Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan Affairs Office of the National Health Commission (NHC). – Photo: GCS
