Disciplinary cases involving intern and resident doctors triple over 4 years
Hong Kong recorded 35 cases during past financial year, compared with 12 in 2022-23, health chief Lo Chung-mau tells lawmakers
The number of disciplinary cases involving intern and resident doctors at Hong Kong’s public hospitals has nearly tripled over four years, the health chief has revealed, as lawmakers called for stronger safeguards to uphold professional standards.
Secretary for Health Lo Chung-mau told a Legislative Council meeting on Wednesday that the Hospital Authority recorded 35 disciplinary cases involving intern and resident doctors over poor performance or breaches of professional conduct during the past financial year.
The figure was an increase from the 23 recorded in 2024-25, 20 in 2023-24 and 12 in 2022-23. The authority logged 14 cases in 2021-22.
Out of the cases recorded since 2021-22, two intern doctors and four resident doctors were dismissed, while the others involved verbal or written warnings.
Lo said that among the cases, three intern doctors failed to complete their internships due to poor performance, misbehaviour or criminal conviction, leaving them ineligible for registration as medical practitioners.
In addition to those cases, 10 intern doctors resigned for personal reasons such as health issues or failure to meet requirements, he added.