Professor YEOH Eng-kiong

Professor Yeoh is Professor of Public Health, Director of the Centre for Health Systems and Policy Research at the JC School of Public Health and Primary Care of The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK). His research is in health systems, services and policy with an interest in applying systems thinking in studying how the complex components of health systems interact and interrelate to improve health. A current research interest is applying a system framework in enhancing an integrated health and social care delivery model for the elderly population. He is involved in collaborative work with research networks such as the Association of Pacific Rim Universities World Institute and World Bank Institute Asia Network for Capacity Building in Health Systems Strengthening (ANHSS) in studies on health systems and training for policy. He was Chairman of the ANHSS from July 2009 – June 2014, and serves as Cluster Leader for the Knowledge Events. He was also a member of the International Advisory Board of the National University of Singapore Initiative to improve health in Asia, which seeks to contribute to thinking and policy formulation in public health & health systems development in Asia. 

Prior to joining The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Professor Yeoh was Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region between 1999 and 2004. As Secretary, he established systems in health care delivery, financing and quality assurance for a vision of “a lifelong investment in health.” He modernised the capabilities of the health system to deal with potential outbreaks of infectious disease. In the Welfare portfolio, he instituted changes in funding providers and in the organisation of services which would improve outputs and outcomes. 

From 1990 – 1999, Professor Yeoh was head & the first Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Hospital Authority with the responsibility of the management and transformation of the public hospital system. The greatest impact of Professor Yeoh's work as Chief Executive was in transforming the entire public system into one which embraced new values of being patient-centred, a focus on outcomes, an emphasis on quality and initiative in clinical governance. He was President of the International Hospital Federation from 2001 – 2003 and was awarded the Hospital Management Asia Lifetime Achievement Award in 2002.

As a clinician, he pioneered public health programmes in the prevention of Hepatitis B and HIV/AIDS. Professor Yeoh has held many key positions in professional bodies, both locally and internationally. He was awarded JP in 1993, OBE in 1997 by the Hong Kong Government and GBS in 2005 by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in recognition of his public service.