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Worryingly, the doctor to 1,000 population ratio in Hong Kong has deteriorated from standards that it once achieved in regard
to the elderly and chronic disease patient populations. The ratio of doctors per 1,000 population aged ≥65 years has decreased
from 11.7 in 2000 to 6.8 in 2019, necessitating an increase of 10,857 doctors to catch up to the 2000 ratio (Census and Statistics
Department, 2021). Furthermore, the ratio of doctors per 1,000 population with chronic diseases decreased from 13.9 in 2000
to 11.4 in 2019 (Census and Statistics Department, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2007, 2009b, 2010, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019b). In other
words, an addition of 3,361 doctors would be necessary to catch up to the 2000 ratio. These ratios offer insight into the extent
of the workload placed upon Hong Kong’s doctors, signifying that there are increasingly fewer doctors available to provide care.

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