Sophia Chan Laments Rejection Of Foreign Doctors

Health Secretary Sophia Chan says it's regrettable and disappointing that the Medical Council has rejected the idea of relaxing requirements for foreign doctors taking up positions in public hospitals.

Writing in her blog, professor Chan says in a meeting with stakeholders - including the council - last month, they had reached a consensus to attract foreign doctors.

She said officials will explore other options to address a shortage of staff and the Hospital Authority will also work to attract about 100 non-locally trained doctors to practice here under the limited registration scheme.

The Medical Council on Wednesday rejected the idea of relaxing requirements for foreign doctors taking up positions in the city's public healthcare system, despite a shortage of staff.

Four proposals were reportedly discussed at a meeting of the council, including dropping the need for specialists trained overseas to first carry out internships, as long as they have passed the council's licensing examination and are willing to serve in public hospitals for at least three years.

The chairman of the council, Joseph Lau, said while all 29 members present at the meeting agreed that there is an acute shortage of doctors in public hospitals, a majority of them voted against the plans.