Independent Hong Kong committee to handle complaints against health firms, as well as private hospitals
Hospitals, day procedure centres, clinics run by medical chains and some beauty centres will come under the tougher rules
An independent committee to oversee private hospital complaints is also set to cover health firms as part of a drive to improve regulation of the private sector.
This emerged after a three-month public consultation on revamping the regulatory framework for private health firms was launched in December 2014. Hospitals, day procedure centres and clinics run by medical chains would come under the tougher rules, as would some beauty centres that perform high-risk procedures.
Hong Kong government confident of passing bill to end abuses in private health sector
The Food and Health Bureau proposed 19 areas for regulation, including the standard of facilities, clinical quality and price transparency.
A bill will be introduced to the Legislative Council in the next session, which starts after the Legco elections in September.
Following the consultation, which attracted 296 written submissions, the government refined some proposals including one allowing an independent committee to handle complaints against private health care facilities. It would examine complaints if they are not resolved by the service providers.
Patients’ Rights Association spokesman Tim Pang Hung-cheong welcomed the extension of coverage and believed it would provide greater protection to patients.