Will Hong Kong’s only dental degree course be removed from accredited list?
- Under proposed law amendment, University of Hong Kong dental graduates will have to intern at public institutions for a year before they can register as dentists
- Health Bureau reveals some dental students have never performed certain procedures before graduation
Hong Kong’s only undergraduate dental surgery degree could be removed from the city’s accredited list by the profession’s watchdog if a government bill requiring students to attend a one-year internship is not passed, health authorities have warned.
The Health Bureau’s warning on Tuesday evening followed opposition from some lawmakers during scrutiny of a proposed legislative amendment, which would require dental graduates of the University of Hong Kong (HKU) to intern at public institutions for a year before they could register as dentists.
The bureau revealed that some students had never performed certain procedures before graduation, and that the past two Dental Council reviews “recognised with conditions” HKU’s Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) degree.
“The Health Bureau never shies away from upholding the quality of healthcare services in Hong Kong.
“We propose to introduce the internship arrangement as soon as possible, which is crucial to maintaining the professional standards and reputation of dentistry in Hong Kong. More importantly, it is central to safeguarding the well-being of our citizens.”