Proposal to let doctors trained overseas work freely in Hong Kong after five years in public sector sparks anger among medical groups
- After five years in public sector, a doctor could obtain full registration in Hong Kong without the need to pass the city’s licensing exam
- Local medical groups immediately slam plan, warning move could ‘open the floodgates’ on doctors of varying quality
Doctors trained overseas will be able to fully practise in Hong Kong without going through a licensing exam as long as they work in the public sector for at least five years , according to a government proposal which aims to plug a severe shortage of personnel.
Local medical groups immediately objected to the plan, which would allow foreign-educated practitioners to gain full registration and bypass the licensing exam, often considered a major hurdle for doctors who want to work in Hong Kong.
They said the proposal would not relieve the pressure on overloaded public hospitals as the foreign-trained doctors could jump to the more lucrative private sector after a few years.
The groups also warned the move could “open the floodgates” on doctors of varying quality.
