The HKBH East Kowloon Medical Centre (EKMC), operated under the Hong Kong Baptist Hospital (HKBH), officially commenced full operations in August 2025, providing hospital-grade, one-stop comprehensive ambulatory medical services to approximately one million residents in the East Kowloon region. The centre offers a wide range of specialties services including diagnostic and treatment as well as rehabilitation services, with plans to introduce additional tailored programs in response to community health needs and medical advancements.
The First One Purpose-built Private Medical Tower in East Kowloon
HKBH, with over 60 years of service, is a reputable and experienced private hospital. EKMC, HKBH’s fully-owned comprehensive ambulatory medical centre, is located at 8 Yan Yip Street, Kwun Tong. The 32-storey facility spans over 90,000 square feet, with a total investment of HK$1.8 billion, making it the only purpose-built private medical tower in East Kowloon. The region, which includes Kwun Tong, Tseung Kwan O, and Kai Tak, has a population of nearly one million. However, it has long lacked large-scale private medical institutions, forcing residents to travel to other districts for private ambulatory services. EKMC is strategically located in the Kwun Tong business district (Ngau Tau Kok), just a 6-minute walk from the Ngau Tau Kok MTR station. The centre aims to fill the gap in medical services within the East Kowloon region, providing residents with a choice and access to high-quality healthcare close to home.
“One Hospital, Multiple Sites” Synergy
EKMC provides over 30 medical services, including general practice, speciality outpatient clinics, laboratory diagnostics, imaging, rehabilitation, and specialised ambulatory centres. It is supported by approximately 160 professional doctors and healthcare professionals. Located just 10 to 15 minutes by car from HKBH in Kowloon Tong, EKMC forms a “one hospital, multiple sites” synergy, allowing patients to be swiftly referred for inpatient care or complex surgeries, ensuring seamless service delivery. To meet diverse needs, EKMC provides tailored treatment plans, including:
- Oncology & Chemotherapy Day Centre: Managed by experienced oncologists and nurses, this centre offers personalized treatment plans, along with professional psychological and nutritional support. The daycare chemotherapy unit features a high-specification intravenous medication preparation room, utilizing hospital-grade, sterile technology and high-standard equipment to ensure the quality and safety of chemotherapy medications.
- ENT Centre: Staffed by experienced ENT specialists, audiologists, and nurses, the centre is equipped with advanced, high-tech facilities, including a high-specification audiology room featuring a double-walled soundproofing design. This ensures that the testing environment meets hospital-grade standards, resulting in higher accuracy.
Additionally, EKMC is equipped with cutting-edge medical devices to enhance diagnostic accuracy and treatment quality, including:
- Positron Emission Tomography-Computed Tomography (PET-CT).
- A Day Surgery Centre with international-standard operating rooms, suitable for minor surgeries under local anaesthesia or monitored anesthesia care (MAC).
- A smart pharmacy featuring Hong Kong’s first Drug Station automated dispensing cabinet, capable of storing approximately 500 medications, utilizes robotic arms and a pneumatic tube system to expedite dispensing, reducing patient waiting times. Patient’s journey can be completed at the same floor without travelling around the building for medications and payment.
- EKMC actively incorporates SMART healthcare technologies, including the “BH e-connect” mobile application, which optimizes appointment scheduling and consultation processes, further improving service efficiency and patient experience.
Secretary for Health Expects EKMC to Relieve Public Hospital Pressure
EKMC held its grand opening ceremony on August 23, 2025, with Professor LO Chung Mau, BBS, JP, Secretary for Health, as the officiating guest. Professor Lo stated: “Hong Kong Baptist Hospital has been committed to the mission of ‘Reaching out to serve the community’ in recent years. Through its support for the Hospital Authority’s public-private partnership programs, EKMC enables patients to access private medical services at affordable rates, thereby alleviating pressure on public hospitals. I am confident that the EKMC team will continue to strive for excellence, introducing more initiatives that benefit diverse communities to promote the sustainable development of Hong Kong’s healthcare system.”
Dr. Eddie HO, Chairman, Board of Directors of HKBH, also remarked: “In 2018, recognizing the healthcare needs of East Kowloon, HKBH made a bold decision to establish a presence in Kwun Tong — a district designated by the government as Hong Kong’s second Central Business District (CBD) — actively spearheading the development of ambulatory medical services.” Dr. HO further noted that over the past six years, despite challenges such as social unrest, the COVID pandemic, and construction delays, the hospital relied on the perseverance of its team and support from various stakeholders to commence phased services in December 2024. “This centre not only marks a new chapter for HKBH but also represents a critical step in addressing societal healthcare needs and supporting the public healthcare system. At the same time, we have initiated a redevelopment and expansion plan for the existing three old buildings at our Kowloon Tong campus, with a new comprehensive hospital building expected to be completed by 2034.
Dr. CHUI Tak Yi, Chief Medical Executive of EKMC, added that as the only comprehensive ambulatory centre in East Kowloon, EKMC will strive to align with government policies to enhance healthcare quality, including primary healthcare, public-private partnerships, and improved transparency in private healthcare pricing. He emphasized the centre’s commitment to serving East Kowloon and all Hong Kong residents under the same mission of Hong Kong Baptist Hospital of “In the Service of Man, for the Glory of God”.