FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 1934
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BILL DEALS WITH CONTROL OF CERTAIN CLINICS
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A BILL WHICH WILL EXTEND INDEFINITELY THE POWERS OF THE DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES, AS REGISTRAR OF CLINICS, TO EXEMPT CERTAIN LONG-STANDING CLINICS FROM HAVING TO APPOINT REGISTERED MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS AS SUPERVISORS, WAS GAZETTED TODAY.
UNDER THE MEDICAL CLINICS (AMENDMENT) BILL 1984, IT IS PROPOSED THAT THE REGISTRAR OF CLINIC'S POWERS OF EXEMPTION, CURRENTLY PROVIDED FOR BY A LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL RESOLUTION EVERY THREE YEARS, BE EXTENDED FOR AN INDEFINITE PERIOD.
A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED THAT THE EXEMPTION COULD ONLY APPLY TO CLINICS WHICH WERE IN EXISTENCE ON SEPTEMBER 5, 1963 AND WHICH WERE ABLE TO SATISFY THE REGISTRAR OF CLINICS THAT THEY MET CERTAIN MINIMUM STANDARDS. IN PARTICULAR, THE MEDICAL MANAGEMENT MUST BE UNDERTAKEN BY PRACTITIONERS WHO, ALTHOUGH NOT ELIGIBLE FOR REGISTRATION IN THE NORMAL WAY, WERE FOUND SUITABLE AT THAT TIME TO PERFORM THE LIMITED SERVICES PROVIDED BY SUCH CLINICS. NO OTHER UNREGISTRABLE DOCTORS COULD PRACTISE MEDICINE IN THESE CLINICS.
HE SAID THAT SINCE THE TIME WHEN THESE CLINICS WERE FIRST GRANTED EXEMPTION THE IR NUMBER HAD DECLINED GRADUALLY, BUT ABOUT 270 REMAINED. +AS THEIR SERVICES ARE STILL USEFUL, IT IS THE INTENTION TO ALLOW THEM TO CONTINUE UNTIL THE PRACTITIONERS WORKING IN THEM HAVE RETIRED OR UNTIL THE CLINICS CLOSE FOR OTHER REASONS. IT IS THEREFORE UNNECESSARY TO REQUIRE A LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL RESOLUTION EVERY THREE YEARS TO ENABLE THE CLINICS TO CONTINUE.+
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT UNDER A CODE OF PRACTICE PUBLISHED BY THE REGISTRAR, THESE PRACTITIONERS WERE ONLY ALLOWED TO PRACTISE WITHIN THE PREMISES OF THE EXEMPTED CLINICS AND THERE WERE LIMITATIONS TO THE SERVICES THEY CAN PERFORM.
+FOR INSTANCE, THEY ARE NOT AUTHORISED TO SIGN ANY STATUTORY CERTIFICATE RELATING TO BIRTH, DEATH OR LUNACY, NOR ANY STATUTORY OR INTERNATIONAL CERTIFICATE OF INNOCULATION OR VACCINATION. NOR ARE THEY PERMITTED TO PRESCRIBE DRUGS LISTED IN PART 1 OF THE FIRST SCHEDULE TO THE DANGEROUS DRUGS ORDINANCE.+
THE SPOKESMAN GAVE AN ASSURANCE THAT THE DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES WOULD CONTINUE TO MAINTAIN SUPERVISION OVER THE OPERATION OF THESE CLINICS AND OVER THE PRACTITIONERS WORKING IN THEM.
+HE WILL ONLY GRANT EXEMPTION TO THOSE CLINICS THAT CONTINUE TO BENEFIT THE COMMUNITY, AND ONLY FOR A YEAR AT A TIME. IN CASE OF ANY SERIOUS BREACH OF THE CONDITIONS AND REQUIREMENTS, OR IF THE PRACTITIONERS ARE NO LONGER FIT TO PRACTISE, THE REGISTRAR OF CLINICS MAY DECIDE NOT TO RENEW EXEMPTION WHEN A CLINIC'S EXEMPTION CERTIFICATE COMES UP FOR RENEWAL EACH YEAR.+
THE BILL