Hong Kong Launches First Dental Internship Programme for Local Graduates to Enhance Dental Services and Skills.

Dental Internship Programme for local dental graduates officially launched

The Department of Health (DH) today (September 1) held a launch ceremony for the Dental Internship Programme to welcome the first cohort of 75 local dental graduates to join the department for a 12-month internship as Dental House Officers.

The Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau; the Director of Health, Dr Ronald Lam; the Chairman of the Dental Council of Hong Kong (DCHK), Dr Lee Kin-man; and the Dean of the Faculty of Dentistry at the University of Hong Kong, Professor Jin Lijian, offered encouragement to the Dental House Officers at the launch ceremony.

Addressing the ceremony, Professor Lo said, "Today, we are gathered to witness the launch of Hong Kong's first Dental Internship Programme. This marks not only a significant milestone in Hong Kong's dental education but also a crucial step forward in our pursuit of higher-quality dental services. Dental practice is a highly specialised field of knowledge and skill, and excellent dentists must continuously refine their expertise through clinical practice. I hope that the Dental House Officers participating in this programme will cherish every opportunity to learn, honing their skills over the coming year. By engaging directly with patients, they can build mutual trust and develop empathy, embodying the professionalism of healthcare providers and safeguarding the health of Hong Kong's citizens. I am confident that the valuable hands-on experience gained during this internship will lay a solid foundation for the future careers of these aspiring dentists."

Dr Lam said, "Clinical internship is not only a vital process of acquiring techniques and knowledge, but also a crucial stage for developing your problem-solving abilities and enhancing your communication skills with patients. Embrace each challenge with a positive attitude and foster a strong teamwork spirit. Dentistry is a team-based discipline. Teamwork is key to providing high-quality healthcare services. Through mutual support and knowledge sharing, you will be equipped to more effectively address complex cases and elevate the overall standard of healthcare."

Provisions relating to provisional registrations, internship and period of assessment in the Dentists Registration Ordinance (DRO) (Cap. 156) came into effect on April 1, 2025. Under the new arrangements, local dental graduates are required to undergo an internship, while non-locally trained dentists who have passed the licensing examination of the DCHK will need to undergo a period of assessment before obtaining full registration in Hong Kong.

The introduction of the internship and period of assessment under the DRO aims to strengthen the clinical experience of local dental graduates and non-locally trained dentists in real-life settings. Through this, they will become familiar with the dental practice in Hong Kong and hone their communication skills with local patients. This ensures that, in addition to mastering professional knowledge, they also develop sound practical skills and a professional attitude, enabling them to exercise clinical judgments in different situations and meet the demands of the dental practice effectively. The current year's local dental graduates have been granted provisional registration by the DCHK and appointed as Dental House Officers by the DH under contractual terms. The DH will first provide a two-week orientation programme for them to understand the scope of public dental services, and help them adapt promptly to the working environment and acquire service requirements and clinical techniques. They will then be assigned to rotate across various service units, including the DH, the Hospital Authority, and Prince Philip Dental Hospital, and work under the guidance of experienced dentists in the following areas:

general dental service;

emergency dental service;

hospital dental service(such as specialist services of oral maxillofacial surgery);

School Dental Care Service; and

community dental service(such as dental services designated for the underprivileged).

Upon successful completion of the internship, the Dental House Officers will be awarded a certificate of experience that enables them to obtain full registration.

Dental Internship Programme for local dental graduates officially launched Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Dental Internship Programme for local dental graduates officially launched Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Dental Internship Programme for local dental graduates officially launched Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Dental Internship Programme for local dental graduates officially launched Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

CHP announces one new melioidosis case

The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (January 16) announced that one new melioidosis case was recorded in the past week (January 9 to 15). The CHP appealed to members of the public to maintain personal and environmental hygiene to prevent melioidosis. The CHP also specifically reminded high-risk groups, including the elderly and people with underlying diseases, to avoid contact with soil or muddy water after typhoons or storms with a view to lowering infection risk.

The case involves a 58-year-old male with underlying illnesses living in Kwai Tsing District. He presented with a fever and vomiting since January 10, followed by confusion on the next day (January 11). He was then sent to the Accident and Emergency Department of Yan Chai Hospital and is currently in the intensive care unit in critical condition. The clinical diagnosis was pneumonia. His clinical sample was confirmed to be positive for Burkholderia pseudomallei upon testing.

The CHP is investigating the infection source of the case. Initial epidemiological investigations revealed that the case is sporadic. No epidemiological linkages have been established between this case and other confirmed cases previously recorded in Hong Kong.

As of yesterday (January 15), one melioidosis case has been recorded in Hong Kong this year. In 2025, 21 melioidosis cases were recorded.

Person-to-person transmission and animal-to-human transmission are rare, but the bacteria causing melioidosis can survive in the local environment. Melioidosis is an endemic disease in Hong Kong, and melioidosis cases have been recorded in Hong Kong each year.

According to literature, melioidosis cases are more common after typhoons or rainstorms. The bacterium Burkholderia pseudomallei in soil and muddy water may become exposed to the ground after typhoons or rainstorms, and the bacteria could spread more easily with strong winds or rainstorms. As such, the number of melioidosis cases may increase.

With this in mind, where practicable, members of the public should stay indoors during typhoons and rainstorms, avoid travelling to areas with potential flooding, and not wade in or have contact with muddy water and soil. In addition, high-risk individuals should avoid paths near stormwater drains where aerosols may be generated from contaminated water.

Members of the public should also take the following preventive measures against infection:

Avoid contact with contaminated soil;

Wear appropriate protective clothing or footwear when participating in activities with possible contact with soil or water, e.g. using gloves and wearing boots. High-risk individuals may also consider wearing a surgical mask;

Wash or shower after exposure to contaminated water or soil;

Always clean any wounds as soon as possible and cover them with waterproof dressings;

Wash hands with liquid soap and water after handling soil or gardening;

Observe food hygiene and avoid drinking raw water; and

Travellers can contract the disease through outdoor water sports. Risk of infection can be minimised by avoiding exposure to water sources (such as rivers, ponds or lakes) that might be contaminated.

The CHP appealed to members of the public to seek medical advice if they develop symptoms, in particular people with diabetes or other immunocompromising conditions, in order to receive an appropriate medical diagnosis and treatment. For more information on melioidosis, please visit the website of the CHP atwww.chp.gov.hk/en/healthtopics/content/24/101110.html.

Source: AI-found images