XN000022-1990-07-09 — Page 9

MONDAY, JULY 9, 1990

REGISTRATION OF PARAMEDICS BEGINS LATER THIS YEAR

THE GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY (MONDAY) THAT REGISTRATION OF OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS AND MEDICAL LABORATORY TECHNOLOGISTS WOULD COMMENCE LATER THIS YEAR.

THIS FOLLOWED THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL'S APPROVAL OF SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION UNDER THE SUPPLEMENTARY MEDICAL PROFESSIONS ORDINANCE IN RESPECT OF THESE TWO PROFESSIONS, A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID.

DETAILED PROVISIONS REGARDING THE REGISTRATION AND DISCIPLINE OF THE TWO PROFESSIONS WOULD BE GAZETTED ON FRIDAY (JULY 13).

**THESE REGULATIONS WILL PROVIDE BETTER PROTECTION TO THE PUBLIC BY MAINTAINING ACCEPTABLE STANDARDS IN THE PRACTICE OF THESE TWO SUPPLEMENTARY MEDICAL PROFESSIONS, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

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HE ADDED THAT AFTER THE SUPPLEMENTARY MEDICAL PROFESSIONS ORDINANCE IN RESPECT OF THESE TWO PROFESSIONS CAME INTO EFFECT, ONLY PERSONS REGISTERED IN THE PROFESSION WOULD BE ALLOWED TO PRACTISE THE PROFESSION.

IT WOULD BE AN OFFENCE FOR ANY UNREGISTERED PERSON TO PRACTISE THE PROFESSION OR FOR ANY PERSON, INCLUDING MEDICAL DOCTORS, TO EMPLOY UNQUALIFIED PERSONNEL ΤΟ PRACTISE THESE SUPPLEMENTARY MEDICAL PROFESSIONS.

HOWEVER, CERTAIN CATEGORIES OF PERSONS WHO MIGHT PERFORM FUNCTIONS THAT COME WITHIN THE SCOPE OF WORK OF A PARTICULAR SUPPLEMENTARY MEDICAL PROFESSION IN THE COURSE OF PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE WOULD BE EXEMPTED FROM THE REQUIREMENTS UNDER THE REGULATIONS.

THEIR OWN REGISTRATION

THERAPY, THESE WOULD INCLUDE

TRAINING IN

IN THE CASE OF OCCUPATIONAL REGISTERED MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS AND STUDENTS UNDERGOING MEDICINE OR OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY,

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE REGULATIONS HAD BEEN DRAWN UP AFTER EXTENSIVE CONSULTATION WITH THE OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS BOARD, THE MEDICAL LABORATORY TECHNOLOGISTS BOARD, THE SUPPLEMENTARY MEDICAL PROFESSIONS COUNCIL AND OTHER RELEVANT PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS.

THE OCCUPATIONAL

THE REGULATIONS WOULD BE CONTAINED IN THERAPISTS (REGISTRATION AND DISCIPLINARY PROCEDURE) REGULATIONS 1990 AND THE MEDICAL LABORATORY TECHNOLOGISTS (REGISTRATION AND DISCIPLINARY PROCEDURE) REGULATIONS 1990.

"THEY PRESCRIBE THE FORM OF THE REGISTER, SPECIFY THE QUALIFICATIONS FOR REGISTRATION, AND PROVIDE FOR PROCEEDINGS RELATING TO THE DISCIPLINE OF OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS AND MEDICAL LABORATORY TECHNOLOGISTS," THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

/UNDER THE