- 1
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30, 1980
BILL TO CONTROL PARAMEDICAL PROFESSIONS INTRODUCED INTO LEGCO
******
LEGISLATION TO CONTROL THE PARAMEDICAL PROFESSIONS IS NECESSARY TO SAFEGUARD THE PUBLIC INTEREST.
THE DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES, DR THE HON K.L. THONG, SAID THIS IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY AT THE SECOND READING OF THE SUPPLEMENTARY MEDICAL PROFESSIONS BILL 1980.
THE BILL SEEKS TO ESTABLISH A SYSTEM OF CONTROL OVER PERSONS WHO ARE ENGAGED IN PROFESSIONS SUPPLEMENTARY TO MEDICINE, WHICH ARE NOT AT PRESENT COVERED BY CONTROLLING LEGISLATION.
WITH ADVANCE OF MEDICAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, DR THONG SAID, LABORATORY TESTS, RADIOLOGICAL EXAMINATIONS, PHYSIOTHERAPY AND OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY ARE UTILISED MORE AND MORE NOWADAYS FOR THE PURPOSE OF EITHER DIAGNOSIS OR TREATMENT OF DISEASES.
+ IT IS IMPORTANT, THEREFORE, THAT SUCH TESTS AND TREATMENT BE CONDUCTED UNDER PROFESSIONAL SUPERVISION AND GUIDANCE, HE SAID.
THE PROFESSIONS COVERED BY THE BILL IN THE INITIAL STAGE WILL BE THE MEDICAL LABORATORY TECHNICIANS, RADIOGRAPHERS, PHYSIOTHERAPISTS AND OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS.
THE BILL HAS THE SUPPORT OF THE PARAMEDICAL PROFESSIONAL BODIES, THE TWO UNIVERSITIES, THE POLYTECHNIC, AND RELEVANT STAFF ASSOCIATIONS OF THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT, DR THONG SAID.
UNDER THE BILL, A SUPPLEMENTARY MEDICAL PROFESSIONS COUNCIL WILL BE ESTABLISHED. IT WILL HAVE OVERALL RESPONSIBILITY FOR ENSURING STANDARDS OF PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE AND PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT OF THE PARAMEDICAL PROFESSIONS AND ALSO IN CO-ORDINATING AND SUPERVISING VARIOUS BOARDS FOR THE PARAMEDICALS.
THE COUNCIL WILL COMPRISE PERSONS APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR, INCLUDING NOMINEES FROM THE TWO UNIVERSITIES, THE POLYTECHNIC, THE PARAMEDICAL PROFESSIONS COVERED BY THE BILL, PUBLIC OFFICERS AND PRIVATE INDIVIDUALS.
A SEPARATE BOARD FOR EACH PARAMEDICAL PROFESSION WILL ALSO BE SET UP. EACH BOARD WILL HAVE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE REGISTRATION OF MEMBERS OF THAT PROFESSION, THE ISSUE OF PRACTISING CERTIFICATES, INSPECTION OF PREMISES USED FOR THE PRACTICE OF THAT PROFESSION AND MATTERS RELATING TO DISCIPLINE.
EACH BOARD WILL CONSIST OF NOT LESS THAN NINE AND NOT MORE THAN 12 MEMBERS, APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR, INCLUDING PERSONS NOMINATED BY THE HONG KONG MEDICAL ASSOCIATION, THE HONG KONG BRANCH OF THE BRITISH MEDICAL ASSOCIATION, PERSONS FROM THE RELEVANT PARAMEDICAL PROFESSIONS AND ONE FROM THE FIELD OF PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION.
THE BILL SETS OUT QUALIFICATIONS FOR REGISTRATION. IT ALSO PROVIDES FOR PROVISIONAL REGISTRATION FOR THE PRACTISING PARAMEDICALS WHO ARE NOT QUALIFIED FOR FULL REGISTRATION.
THE CONTROL MEASURES FOR THE PARAMEDICAL PROFESSIONS WILL BE BROUGHT INTO OPERATION IN STAGES, COMMENCING WITH MEDICAL LABORATORY TECHNICIANS, TO BE FOLLOWED BY RADIOGRAPHERS, PHYSIOTHERAPISTS AND OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS.
12