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A rigorous examination system is the appropriate and fair way for non-locally trained doctors to gain full registration in Hong Kong. Even in the UK, where the coronavirus pandemic is worse, the PLAB exam has been held, whereas Hong Kong has cancelled its fifth licensing exam. Photo: Shutterstock

Letters | Hong Kong Medical Council’s repeated cancelling of licensing exams for overseas doctors is unacceptable

  • Many high-quality doctors from the rest of the world will no longer wish to come to Hong Kong and serve a three-week quarantine only to face the disappointment of yet another cancelled exam
Repeated cancellations of examinations needed by non-locally trained doctors to work in Hong Kong are threatening to undermine the excellent reputation of the medical sector here.
The Medical Registration Ordinance places a statutory duty on the Medical Council of Hong Kong to hold licensing exams. However, since the start of the pandemic, the council has cancelled five exams – two of them written and three clinical – citing Covid-19 concerns. This is tarnishing its reputation. The latest cancellation, last week, was for the clinical part of the Hong Kong Medical Licensing Exam.

This is an unacceptable shirking of responsibility for a professional regulatory body. We would very much like the Medical Council to not only live up to its statutory duty, but also demonstrate clear leadership in finding a way forward despite the pandemic.

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Most other medical exam authorities in Hong Kong have already shown the needed competencies in this regard.

Hong Kong’s two medical schools both successfully carried out their final exams last year. The exams, which involve real patients and a greater number of examinees, are scheduled again for this year. Various specialty colleges in Hong Kong have also resumed clinical examinations. Even in the UK, where the pandemic is worse, the PLAB exam (for medical licensing of doctors who qualified abroad) has been held.

Clinical exams are possible, provided the organising authority is willing to take the initiative and make appropriate arrangements.

Adding to the problem, the Medical Council wants exam candidates to sign a waiver that indemnifies it against any liability as a result of their exam cancellations.

Since the beginning of 2020, many non-locally trained doctors have left jobs or taken time off to come to Hong Kong to prepare for the licensing exam. Like stranded air travellers at the start of the pandemic, we are now one year into Covid-19 and the licensing exam candidates are still stuck in a type of professional transit.

Many high-quality doctors from the rest of the world will no longer wish to come to Hong Kong and serve a three-week quarantine only to face the disappointment of yet another cancelled exam.

Medical Council’s exam move reflects protectionist mindset

These cancellations are affecting the exam candidates in other ways. Some candidates are nearing the expiration of their passing exam results on previous parts of the exam. The five-year validity period of licensing exam results should be extended to coincide with the duration of the cancelled exams.

A rigorous examination system is the appropriate and fair way for non-locally trained doctors to gain full registration in Hong Kong. Our society strongly supports the licensing exam and will continue backing the candidates. It is time for the Medical Council to do the same.

Dr Marcus Marcet, president, Medical Licentiate Society of Hong Kong

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