HKUST boosts healthcare access from Sri Lanka to campus with innovation initiatives
Students from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) have introduced practical healthcare innovations to underserved communities in Sri Lanka through the Student Innovation for Global Health Technology (SIGHT) program. Launched in 2014, SIGHT promotes interdisciplinary solutions to health challenges in developing regions and has engaged over 500 students in more than 30 projects.
One of the latest efforts is a telemedicine system developed by Wesley Chan Hoi-chun, a freshman at HKUST’s School of Science. From June 5 to 13, he visited Haputale in Uva province to introduce the software, which manages patient data and enables video consultations—easing access to care for residents who must travel long distances for medical services. His team also installed antennas to improve internet connectivity and trained local healthcare workers to use the system. The initiative has already benefited over 50 families, and the team plans to return in August to expand their work.
To complement these efforts, the group also launched an educational campaign promoting clean water practices, further supporting public health in the region.
Meanwhile, on campus, HKUST has launched SmartCare, an AI-powered healthcare platform developed by university researchers. Led by Prof. Chen Hao from the Department of Computer Science and Engineering, the system is now in a six-month pilot serving over 15,000 students, faculty, and staff.
Built on MedDr—one of the world’s largest open-source generalist multimodal medical models—SmartCare streamlines the entire patient journey, from symptom intake to post-consultation follow-up. Key features include multilingual live transcription, intelligent triage, and automated generation of over 30 types of medical documents, significantly reducing administrative workload and improving clinical efficiency.
SmartCare also features a Virtual Patient module that simulates consultations and provides instant AI feedback, supporting medical training and education. The platform is being considered for rollout at healthcare institutions including Gleneagles Hospital and CUHK Medical Centre.
Dr. Justin Cheng, SmartCare’s CEO and an HKUST clinic physician, said the system allows doctors to focus more on patient interaction by minimizing paperwork. Prof. Samuel Yu, Director of the Health, Safety, and Environment Office, added that the pilot reflects HKUST’s commitment to translating research into real-world solutions that serve both providers and patients.
Category: Community
