AustCham China collaborated with the Australian Embassy to arrange a visit by Professor Kelvin Kong AM to our Corporate Member, Beijing United Family Hospital (UFH).

Professor Kong, a Worimi man, is Australia’s first Indigenous surgeon, who specializes in Otolaryngology, Head, and Neck surgery. For his contributions to health in Australia, he was recipient of the prestigious 2023 NAIDOC Person of the Year Award and was inducted as a Member of the Order of Australia in 2024.

NAIDOC Week is held in July every year. It is an important festival to celebrate and recognize the history, cultures and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. First Nations cultures are an integral part of Australia’s national identity, and the Australian Embassy was honoured to bring Professor Kong to China to mark NAIDOC Week 2024 to share his stories and insights.

Professor Kong raised several questions during the tour, touching on topics such as UFH’s provision of rural health services, resident training programs, and how the hospital integrates Traditional Chinese medicine with Western medicine.

Drawing from his own experience with traditional medicine in Australian hospitals, he mentioned that Australia is still in the early stages, primarily utilizing traditional medicine in mental health treatments.

Upon learning that private hospitals constitute 40-60% of hospitals in China while serving a smaller proportion of the population, Professor Kong contrasted this with Australia, where the private sector handles fewer patients but offers quicker service. In contrast, UFH prioritizes spending more time with each patient.

Thank you to Professor Kong for his valuable insights, and to the Australian Embassy for facilitating his visit.

Professor Kong continues to tour around China as part of the Australian Mission’s celebration of NAIDOC Week.