XN000022-1980-04-25 — Page 4

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FRIDAY, APRIL 25, 1980

LAW TO CONTROL PARAMEDICAL PROFESSIONS PROPOSED

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THE GOVERNMENT PROPOSES TO INTRODUCE LEGISLATION TO ESTABLISH A SYSTEM OF CONTROL OVER PROFESSIONS SUPPLEMENTARY TO MEDICINE, OR WHAT ARE COMMONLY KNOWN AS PARAMEDICAL PROFESSIONS.

PUBLISHED IN THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE TODAY IS THE SUPPLEMENTARY MEDICAL PROFESSIONS BILL 1980 WHICH IS DESIGNED TO PROMOTE ADEQUATE STANDARDS OF PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE AND PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT AMONG THE VARIOUS PARAMEDICAL PROFESSIONS.

THE PARAMEDICALS ARE THOSE OTHER THAN DOCTORS AND DENTISTS WHO ARE CONCERNED WITH THE CARE OF PATIENTS IN THE OPERATION OF HEALTH SERVICES. AMONG THOSE ARE MEDICAL LABORATORY TECHNICIANS, RADIOGRAPHERS, PHYSIOTHERAPISTS, AND OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS.

A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED THAT EXCEPT FOR THE PHARMACISTS AND THE NURSING PROFESSION, THERE IS AT PRESENT NO STATUTORY CONTROL OVER PARAMEDICAL PROFESSIONS IN HONG KONG.

+WITH THE ADVANCE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, LABORATORY TESTS AND X-RAY EXAMINATIONS ARE RELIED UPON MORE AND MORE FOR THE DIAGNOSIS OF DISEASES. SIMILARLY, RADIOTHERAPY, PHYSIOTHERAPY AND OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY ARE OFTEN PRESCRIBED AS PART OF A TREATMENT PROGRAMME. IT IS IN THE PUBLIC INTERESTS THAT SUCH TESTS AND TREATMENT SHOULD BE CONDUCTED UNDER PROFESSIONAL SUPERVISION AND GUIDANCE, THE SPOKESMAN ADDED.

THE BILL WILL PROVIDE FOR THE REGISTRATION AND DISCIPLINE OF THE PROFESSIONS, THE ISSUE OF PRACTISING CERTIFICATES AND CODES OF PRACTICE.

A SUPPLEMENTARY MEDICAL PROFESSIONS COUNCIL WILL BE ESTABLISHED TO SUPERVISE AND CO-ORDINATE THE ACTIVITIES OF VARIOUS PARAMEDICAL PROFESSIONS,

MEMBERSHIP OF THE COUNCIL WILL COMPRISE THE FOLLOWING PERSONS APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR A CHAIRMAN A DEPUTY CHAIRMAN NOT MORE THAN FOUR PUBLIC OFFICERS ONE PERSON NOMINATED BY THE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG- ONE PERSON NOMINATED BY THE CHINESE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG- ONE PERSON NOMINATED BY THE POLYTECHNIC ONE PERSON FROM EACH PROFESSION TO WHICH THE BILL APPLIES- AND FOUR OTHER PERSONS, NOT BEING PUBLIC OFFICERS.

THERE WILL BE A SEPARATE BOARD FOR EACH PARAMEDICAL PROFESSION CONSISTING OF NOT LESS THAN NINE AND NOT MORE THAN 12 MEMBERS APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE BILL WILL COVER THE FOUR PARAMEDICAL PROFESSIONS LISTED IN THE SCHEDULE.

AS IT WILL TAKE SOME TIME TO PREPARE THE NECESSARY SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION AND TO SET UP THE REGISTRATION MACHINERY, IT IS INTENDED THAT THE CONTROL SHOULD BE BROUGHT IN BY PHASES, STARTING WITH MEDICAL LABORATORY TECHNICIANS, TO BE FOLLOWED BY RADIOGRAPHERS, PHYSIOTHERAPISTS AND OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS, HE SAID,

THE DATES FOR THE APPLICATION OF THE BILL TO ANY PARTICULAR PROFESSION WILL BE DECIDED BY THE GOVERNOR AND ANNOUNCED IN THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, HE ADDED.

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