Chiropractors slam inaction on sick notes for back-pain sufferers
Hong Kong employees are risking life-long back problems because the government will not allow chiropractors to issue sick notes, specialists argue.
The Hong Kong Chiropractic Association has also criticised the Labour Department for not issuing any fines under regulations brought in two years ago requiring business to make sure workplaces do not put employees at risk of spinal injuries.
Representatives of Hong Kong's 50 chiropractors met department officials this month to appeal for the right to issue sick-leave certificates, as their colleagues in developed countries overseas do.
Seven out of 10 Hong Kong office workers are estimated to suffer from back problems but cannot take time off work to seek treatment because the sick notes are not recognised. As a result of not resting, they risk worsening their back problems, said association chairman Vincent Chan Wan-ho.
He pointed out that moves were already under way for Chinese traditional medicine practitioners to be able to issue them.
Not a single fine has been issued since the Occupational Safety and Health (Display Screen Equipment) Regulation came into effect in 2003. It requires employers to ensure staff are seated so that monitors are at eye level to avoid back stress. Officials have issued 190 warning letters and 26 improvement notices, and conducted 473 inspections, according to the department. It has also organised 1,110 educational talks since the regulation was approved in 2002.
Mr Chan said Labour Department officials had told his association a survey was being carried out into how necessary Hong Kong people saw chiropractors as being, with the results expected by the end of the year.
'They say if the survey results prove chiropractors are needed in Hong Kong, they will have a working group set up with the Department of Health to look into it - so we are still a long, long way off.
'In Canada, the US and Australia, it is not a problem. Chiropractors are able to issue sick certificates. We have raised this with the Labour Department and they said it would be part of their considerations when the time comes,' he said.
The Labour Department spokesman said an inter-departmental working group would be formed on the issue soon. He defended the failure to fine any offenders for flouting the regulation, calling the violations 'not serious', and said employers soon took action after being asked to.
