HK doctors hoping to set up shop over border fight red tape
Despite a cross-border provision for Hong Kong doctors to launch practices on the mainland, medical professionals complain they are being caught up in red tape.
Under the latest phase of the Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (Cepa) announced in July, Hong Kong doctors qualified on the mainland are allowed to launch solo practices there. The accord also halved the investment requirement for joint ventures in medical institutions to 10 million yuan.
Still, some doctors have sought the help of the Hong Kong Medical Association because of the lack of professional indemnity insurance coverage on the mainland and the red tape involved in opening clinics.
More than 20 Hong Kong doctors will visit Shanghai health-care institutes this week on a tour organised by the central government's liaison office in Hong Kong. They will discuss the Cepa arrangements with local government officials and exchange views on professional developments.
A specialist in obstetrics and gynaecology, Louis Chan Yik-si, said his plan to practise on the mainland was shelved after his request for insurance coverage was rejected.
Most Hong Kong private doctors are insured for professional negligence by the Medical Protection Society (MPS). But obstetrics is regarded as one of the riskiest fields, and specialists in obstetrics and gynaecology have to pay more than HK$200,000 in annual premium for professional insurance.
After Dr Chan's application for insurance was rejected, he went to the Medical Association for help.
'It's almost a dead end for any doctor who wants to practise on the mainland,' he said.
To him, the losers are potential patients who will not be able to get care on the mainland before and after operations performed in Hong Kong.
'In terms of medical tourism, mainland patients may not know much about the services available in Hong Kong,' Dr Chan said. 'A contact point on the mainland can provide such information and some post-operative care.'
Ko Wing-man, a private orthopaedist who is among 14 Hong Kong doctors practising part-time at a hospital in Panyu, Guangdong, said the MPS had agreed to cover the group.
'The MPS assessed our cases individually and provided coverage, but we understand that some doctors face difficulties in getting insurance coverage,' Dr Ko said. 'We hope the Medical Association can fix the problem for the whole profession.'
Medical Association president Choi Kin said the association had referred the complaint to the MPS and was told only that 'consideration will be made on a case-by-case basis'.
Dr Choi said the red tape was preventing doctors taking advantage of Cepa.
'Even though there is a policy under Cepa, each local government has its own policies,' he said. 'Some local governments may not want Hong Kong doctors to practice there.'
Dr Choi said the association once tried to publicise information on Hong Kong medical services in some medical institutions in Guangdong, but 'our request was turned down because those institutions didn't want the competition from Hong Kong doctors'.
