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The LKS Faculty of Medicine at the University of Hong Kong (HKUMed) convened the first in-person meeting of the recently launched Lancet Commission on Transforming Primary Health Care (PHC) in the Post-COVID-19 Era in mid-November 2025. The event brought together leading researchers and international experts in PHC sciences, health policy, family medicine, nursing and public health from all seven continents with a balanced representation of gender and low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) to chart a bold agenda for rebuilding equitable, people-centred and digitally enabled PHC systems worldwide. HKUMed will host a series of ongoing expert discussions and aims to publish the Commission’s landmark paper within the next year.

‘This Commission represents a pivotal step in advancing primary healthcare and medical education, and HKUMed is honoured to lead this global effort. By placing primary health care at the heart of resilient health systems, we are committed to driving evidence-based reforms that deliver meaningful progress for communities locally and globally,’ said Professor William Wong Chi-wai, Clinical Professor and Department Chairperson, Department of Family Medicine and Primary Care, School of Clinical Medicine, HKUMed.

‘The recent tragic fire incident has profoundly saddened the Hong Kong community. We believe that enhancing primary health care preparedness for future pandemics will improve our ability to respond to similar emergencies which require coordinated, community-based health services and the rapid mobilisation of resources,’ Professor Wong added.

‘Innovations aimed at reaching marginalised groups are going to succeed only if they are built on the solid foundation of empanelment, entitlements, community trust and data collection systems,’ emphasised Professor Luke Allen from the University of Oxford.

‘Changing mindsets to prioritise and invest in people empowerment and people-centred care is essential,’ said Professor Jose M Valderas from the National University of Singapore.

The Commission reaffirmed the foundational principles of the Alma-Ata (1978) and Astana (2018) Declarations and called for urgent, practical steps to achieve universal health coverage, strengthen essential public health functions, deepen community engagement and drive multisectoral collaboration. The Commission’s diverse membership underscores a global commitment to transforming PHC to meet today’s challenges and build resilient health systems for the future.

PHC systems worldwide are under unprecedented strain. The COVID-19 pandemic exposed and deepened longstanding vulnerabilities, including ageing populations, persistent social inequalities, geopolitical conflicts and climate change. Inequities rooted in poverty, discrimination and gender disparities have eroded access and trust, particularly in LMICs. At the same time, the crisis spurred remarkable innovations. Telehealth, remote monitoring, artificial intelligence and data-driven tools rapidly expanded, transforming care delivery, strengthening home-based services and informing policy. Critical gaps persist, however: hospital-centric models still dominate, prevention and health promotion are under-prioritised, and preparedness for future pandemics and emergencies requires further enhancement. The newly launched Lancet Commission is committed to introducing new ideas to ensure that PHC can effectively meet future needs.

Six priority actions were outlined to guide PHC reform worldwide:

• Improve equity in access to health services by addressing the broader social, economic, environmental and behavioural determinants of health through evidence-informed, cross-sector action, with particular focus on vulnerable and marginalised populations.
• Maintain people-centred care by empowering individuals, families and communities as advocates and co-developers of services and self-carers; and ensure that services are accessible, continuous, comprehensive, coordinated and tailored across the life course.
• Promote the safe and responsible adoption of digital health and AI by investing in infrastructure, training, ethical standards, interoperability, data privacy and digital literacy to ensure no one is left behind.
• Integrate community-based medical and social care through multisectoral collaboration across healthcare, public health, social services and community organisations to deliver holistic, people-centred care and strengthen resilience.
• Build a future PHC workforce by investing in multidisciplinary teams, ongoing training and professional development, well-being resources, surge capacity, flexible deployment, and the full utilisation of all health professionals, including community health workers and nurses.
• Enhance PHC preparedness for future health emergencies by embedding PHC in crisis planning, surveillance and response; strengthen data systems and supply chains; foster cross-sector collaboration; and maintain essential services for vulnerable groups.

Global perspectives and innovation
On 18 November 2025, a mini-summit titled ‘Interdisciplinarity, Innovation & Impacts of Primary Health Care: Global Perspectives’ extended the discussion, focusing on reimagining PHC through interdisciplinary and international lenses. The sessions were kicked off with the Director of the WHO European Centre for Primary Health Care, Kazakhstan, who shared their data-driven strategies to advance equity, team-based models of care and building trust within communities; revitalising PHC to tackle social determinants of health; and strengthening pandemic preparedness. Case studies from India and Pakistan showcased how policy-driven reforms and implementation science can unlock measurable improvements. Additional discussions explored new policy landscapes and research opportunities in regions such as Singapore, workforce development in Small Island Developing States, and disruptive political influences shaping PHC in the United States. The summit emphasised evidence-based, context-sensitive reforms to achieve resilient, equitable and innovative PHC systems worldwide.

Media Enquiries
Please contact LKS Faculty of Medicine of The University of Hong Kong by email (medmedia@hku.hk).