'Medical Council Will Get It Right This Time'

Medical Association president Ho Chung-ping said on Sunday that he's confident the Medical Council will pass a reform package this week to exempt overseas-trained doctors from carrying out internships in Hong Kong. This comes after four reform proposals were all rejected by the council last month.

Speaking after attending RTHK's City Forum, Ho said the feedback from council members so far is that they want to get something done this time.

He said it would be best if his association's ideas are picked by more than half of the 32-member council, which includes 15 members from the association.

However, uncertainty persists over the association's package, because the council's legal counsel has said it could be subject to legal challenges – although Ho told RTHK's Damon Pang that any of the packages being put forward could face legal hurdles.

If the council rejects the association's package, Ho said his personal choice would be to support a package proposed by patient's rights advocate Alex Lam, rather than the government's package. He said Lam's ideas are closer to the association's.

Under the association's plan, overseas doctors will, after passing their exams, be required to obtain 18 months of clinical experience at the Hospital Authority, the two medical schools in the SAR or the Department of Health.

This compares to the three years proposed in the government package, which was among the proposals that were voted down last month.

Lam's proposal includes three months of clinical experience as part of three years of working experience.

The Medical Council has come in for strong criticism for refusing to back steps to encourage foreign doctors to the city, including relaxing requirements on internships even though public hospitals have complained of a staffing crisis, with many medical positions unfilled.

Lawmakers from both sides of the political divide have said they will attempt to strip the council of its power to decide under what conditions overseas doctors will be allowed to work in Hong Kong.