Clinics admit forwarding medical reports to employers - with consent of job seekers

Three local medical centres have admitted asking job candidates for their consent to having detailed information on their personal health sent to potential employers as part of pre-employment health checks.

Although the practice is legal, employers could face discrimination or privacy complaints unless they have a legitimate reason for having the sensitive information forwarded to them.

Julie Chow Chi-lei, spokeswoman for Quality HealthCare Medical Services, confirmed that information contained on its pre-employment 'health declaration' form was forwarded to employers with the applicant's consent.

Questions on the pre-employment form pertain to conditions including asthma, heart disease, mental illness, cancer, liver disease, venereal disease, Aids, diabetes and thyroid or other endocrine disorders.

Ms Chow said her company, the largest private sector health care provider in Hong Kong, realised such forms could prove controversial.

'We have looked into and we will continue to look into it,' she said. 'And should there be concerns, we will definitely work harder to make it better for our clients [the applicants].'

Ms Chow said several hundred local companies used Quality HealthCare clinics for pre-employment medical checks.