XN000022-1989-11-13 — Page 9

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MONDAY. NOVEMBER 13. 1989

COUNCIL HOPES FOR EARLY PASSAGE OF BILL

* * * * * *

THAT THE

THE SUPPLEMENTARY MEDICAL PROFESSIONS COUNCIL HOPES SUPPLEMENTARY MEDICAL PROFESSIONS (AMENDMENT) BILL 1989 WILL BE PASSED AT THE EARLIEST POSSIBLE DATE SO AS TO PAVE THE WAY FOR THE COMMENCEMENT OF REGISTRATION FOR THE VARIOUS PROFESSIONS CONCERNED.

THE NEWLY APPOINTED CHAIRMAN OF THE SUPPLEMENTARY PROFESSIONS COUNCIL. PROFESSOR TAM SHANG-WAI, SAID THIS MEET-THE-MEDIA SESSION TODAY MONDAY).

MEDICAL

AT

A

THE SUPPLEMENTARY MEDICAL PROFESSIONS (AMENDMENT} BILL WAS INTRODUED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL IN JANUARY.

HOWEVER, ITS PASSAGE WAS HELD OVER FROM THE LAST LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL SESSION IN VIEW OF DEBATE OVER A NUMBER OF ISSUES RAISED IN THE CONTEXT OF THE BILL. INCLUDING THE QUESTION OF DOCTOR'S REFERRAL.

PROF TAM SAID THE SUPPLEMENTARY MEDICAL PROFESSIONS COUNCIL HAD GIVEN CAREFUL CONSIDERATION TO THE ISSUE OF DOCTOR'S REFERRAL AT ITS MEETING HELD LAST FRIDAY.

A

"IT IS THE VIEW OF THE COUNCIL THAT IN NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES, MEMBER OF THE SUPPLEMENTARY MEDICAL PROFESSIONS, EXCEPT OPTOMETRISTS. SHOULD ONLY TREAT PATIENTS REFERRED FROM A MEDICAL PRACTITIONER, HE SAID.

"HOWEVER. WE CONCUR WITH THE PROFESSIONAL BOARDS THAT THE REQUIREMENT OF DOCTOR'S REFERRAL SHOULD BE PROVIDED IN THE CODE OF PRACTICE FOR THE RESPECTIVE PROFESSIONS. AND SHOULD NOT BE MADE A MATTER FOR LEGISLATION.

HE SAID THE COUNCIL HAD, AT THE MEETING, ENDORSED THE FINAL VERSION OF THE CODES OF PRACTICE FOR OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS. PHYSIOTHERAPISTS AND MEDICAL LABORATORY TECHNOLOGISTS PREPARED BY

VARIOUS BOARDS.

THE

"ALL OF THEM CONTAIN A REFERENCE ΤΟ THE REQUIREMENT OF DOCTOR'S REFERRAL. PROF TAM SAID.

"

"WE THEREFORE DO NOT SEE A NEED TO HAVE IT STIPULATED IN THE LEGISLATION AT THIS STAGE WHICH COULD BE INTERPRETED AS A MISTRUST OF THE SELF-REGULATORY ROLE OF THE PROFESSIONAL BOARDS.

CARE

"FOR EFFECTIVE HEALTH CARE AND IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF PATIENTS. THERE SHOULD BE A PARTNERSHIP OF EXPERTS IN THE HEALTH FIELD.

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