Health Bureau proposes increasing number of non-medical member of Medical Council

The Health Bureau has proposed amendments to the Medical Registration Ordinance and reforming the Medical Council.

The Bureau suggested increasing the number of non-medical member of the Council.

The Bureau also plans to reform the appeals mechanism. It anticipates that the waiting time for hearings will be reduced by more than 30%, to an average of 29 months.

Secretary for Health Lo Chung-mau has submitted the draft amendment to the Medical Registration Ordinance to the Legislative Council, which will have its first reading on August 8th.

The proposed amendments cover four areas, including increasing the proportion of non-medical member on the Medical Council from 25% to 31% or 11 people. The number of medical members will remain unchanged, but the sources of medical members will be broadened. All members of the Medical Council, nominated and elected, must be appointed by the Chief Executive.

Reforms to the appeals mechanism were also proposed, replacing the Preliminary Investigation Committee and Inquiry Panel with a "Medical Investigation Unit" and a "Trial group," led by independent adjudicators appointed by the government.

The number of independent adjudicators would be significantly increased, with the maximum number of nominees raised from 140 to 280, over 60% of whom would be non-medical adjudicators.

Lo Chung-mau says he believes the reforms will significantly reduce the waiting time for inquiries.