'New Foreign Doctors Plan Still Not Good Enough'

Democratic Party lawmaker Helena Wong says the Medical Council’s new proposal won’t be able to attract overseas specialists unless it clarifies confusions over what constitutes “clinical experience” ahead of a vote early next month.

Under the proposal, an internship requirement can be waived if overseas specialists obtain 18 months of clinical experience.

But Wong complained on Saturday that the council has failed to make clear where clinical service has to be performed.

She said it is impractical if specialists who opt to work for the Department of Health, or the two medical schools in Hong Kong, have to “relocate” and work at public hospitals to fulfill the requirement.

Wong added if clinical experience is limited to services at public hospitals, the new proposal will only “give more obstacles” and discourage overseas specialists from coming to Hong Kong.

Wong said she doubts whether council members can reach a consensus this time round.

The Medical Council is expected to vote on the proposal on May 8, after it recently rejected several other plans to ease registration requirements.

Speaking at a separate event, Health Secretary Sophia Chan also said overseas doctors working in the two medical schools or the Department of Health should be treated equally, and the clinical work they do at their workplace should also be counted as fulfilling the exemption requirements.

______________________________