Private clinics must obtain licences by end-2027 with exemption

The government says that by the end of next year, all private clinics must obtain licences. Those operating clinics with no licence may see a maximum fine of 100,000 dollars and imprisonment of up to three years.

Currently, the Private Medical Institutions Ordinance only requires hospitals to obtain licences. This will be extended to all clinics by the end of next year.

The Department of Health has been accepting applications since October last year; small-scale clinics can apply for exemptions. As of this month, the Department has received 813 licence applications, with only 15 percent, or 118 cases, approved.

As for exemptions for small-scale clinics, there were 3,026 applications, with 97 percent processed.