XN000022-1993-07-14 — Page 37

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 14, 1993

NO EXEMPTED MEDICAL PRACTITIONER PROSECUTED IN PAST THREE YEARS

* * * * *

THERE ARE AT PRESENT 149 UNREGISTRABLE MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS PRACTISING IN

137 CLINICS EXEMPTED UNDER SECTION 8 OF THE MEDICAL

CLINIC ORDINANCE.

THE AVERAGE NUMBER OF ATTENDANCES PER YEAR IN THESE CLINICS OVER THE PAST THREE YEARS IS ABOUT 1,235,000.

BUT NO EXEMPTED CLINIC PRACTITIONER HAD BEEN PROSECUTED IN THE PAST THREE YEARS.

IN REPLY TO A WRITTEN QUESTION BY THE HON LAU WAH-SUM, THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, MRS ELIZABETH WONG SAID THE AVERAGE CHARGE PER CONSULTATION IN THE EXEMPTED CLINICS, INCLUDING A TWO DAY SUPPLY OF DRUGS, WAS ABOUT $35 IN THE PAST THREE YEARS.

MRS WONG EXPLAINED THAT THE MEDICAL CLINICS ORDINANCE EMPOWERED THE REGISTRAR OF CLINICS (THE DIRECTOR OF HEALTH) TO EXEMPT CLINICS ESTABLISHED BEFORE 1963 FROM THE STATUTORY REQUIREMENT ΤΟ EMPLOY REGISTERED DOCTORS.

BE

"THIS ALLOWS UNREGISTRABLE MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS TO CONTINUE TO EMPLOYED, BUT, AT THE SAME TIME, THIS MECHANISM BRINGS THEM UNDER THE CONTROL OF THE AUTHORITY IN ORDER TO PROTECT THE INTERESTS OF PATIENTS," SHE SAID.

"PRACTITIONERS IN EXEMPTED CLINICS ARE SUBJECT TO A CODE OF PRACTICE ISSUED BY THE REGISTRAR REGARDING MODE OF PRACTICE, SCOPE OF FUNCTIONS AND STANDARD OF CONDUCT.

EACH EXEMPTED CLINIC IS INSPECTED AT LEAST TWICE A YEAR BY STAFF OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, SHE ADDED.

ON THE REVIEW OF UNREGISTRABLE MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS, MRS WONG SAID MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ENACTED THE MEDICAL CLINICS (AMENDMENT) BILL IN DECEMBER 1984 TO RECOGNISE THE ROLE OF THESE PRACTITIONERS IN GRANTING THEM EXEMPTION.

IN REVIEWING WHETHER THIS EXEMPTION SHOULD BE RENEWED, MRS WONG THE REGISTRAR'S PRIMARY CONCERN WAS TO PROTECT THE CONSUMER BY ENSURING COMPLIANCE WITH THE CODE OF PRACTICE.

SAID

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