Expert Insight

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is among the most common central nervous system (CNS) inflammatory demyelinating diseases with an estimated global prevalence of 1 in 3,000 people in 2020. Although MS is regarded as relatively uncommon in the Asia Pacific Region and even rarer in Hong Kong with a local prevalence of 0.77 per 100,000 people in 1999, a recent study revealed that the local MS prevalence was 6.9 per 100,000 people in 2020, which was higher than mainland China and Taiwan. In an interview with Omnihealth Practice, Dr. Alexander Lau explained the rising trend of MS in Hong Kong over the past decade. To better manage MS, Dr. Lau also discussed the opportunity of having an integrative platform that combines both Western and Chinese medicine as a comprehensive approach for long-term MS treatment.

Hepatitis C is an infectious liver disease caused by the blood-borne hepatitis C virus (HCV). About 70% of patients infected with HCV will develop chronic hepatitis which may lead to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In Hong Kong, patients are mostly infected through blood or blood products transfusion prior to the introduction of anti-HCV screening to the blood transfusion service in 1991. In a recent interview with Omnihealth Practice, Dr. Loo, Ching-Kong, Specialist in Gastroenterology and Hepatology, shared his insights on the local management strategies of hepatitis C.

In routine clinical practice, a treatment decision can only legally proceed after patients are adequately informed and have voluntarily granted their consent for said decision. However, in patients whose mental capacity are compromised, a decision made on their behalf from an unauthorized third party may have legal, practical, or ethical repercussions especially when rapid treatment decisions are required. In a recent interview with Omnihealth Practice, Dr. Jess Leung brought out the issues encountered by persons without decision-making capacity (i.e., also known as mentally incapacitated persons, MIPs) and their carers. As everyone has a risk of losing their mental capacity, Dr. Leung called for earlier preparation by introducing the enduring power of attorney (EPA), advance directives (AD) and will, collectively known as the ‘3 instruments of peace (平安三寶)', to protect our interests while we are still mentally sound.

Ovarian cancer remains the most deadly gynecologic malignancy, and its incidence has been steadily increasing over the past few decades. In Hong Kong, ovarian cancer is the 7th leading cause of female cancer deaths. The crude death rate was 5.5 per 100,000 female population. In 2017, a total of 218 women died from this cancer, accounting for 3.7% of all cancer deaths in females. In a recent interview, Dr. William Foo, Specialist in Clinical Oncology, shared his insights on the management of ovarian cancer in Hong Kong.