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Did you know that in Hong Kong there are 12 health professions that are subject to regulation and registration. We at Healthy Matters think patient safety is imperative and our mission is to deliver you trusted health information so you can make better-informed decisions.
When seeking out medical services, you may feel a bit concerned about the legitimacy and qualifications of practitioners, especially with so many options available. This guide provides information on the ordinances set up by the Laws of Hong Kong to establish registration guidelines and measures ensuring the protection of patients, quality of care, and includes a list of registered practitioners in an array of fields.
To make sure you are in safe hands, you should always check first whether the health professional you are seeking services from is part of a regulated profession and whether he/she is registered.
“The Medical Council was founded to assure and promote quality in the medical profession in order to protect patients, foster ethical conduct, and develop and maintain high professional standards. Empowered by the Laws of Hong Kong regarding Medical Registration the Medical Council handles the registration of eligible medical practitioners, administers the Licensing Examination, issues Code of Professional Conduct and guidelines, as well as, maps out a disciplinary mechanism to handle complaints lodged by members of the public and to exercise disciplinary actions to the medical practitioners.
Any person wishing to practice medicine, surgery or midwifery in Hong Kong is required to apply for registration with the Medical Council in accordance with the provisions of the Medical Registration Ordinance.”
List of Registered Medical Practitioners
Medical Council of Hong Kong
“The Chinese Medicine Council of Hong Kong is established under the Chinese Medicine Ordinance and is responsible for implementing regulatory measures for Chinese medicine. The main purpose for regulation of Chinese medicine is to protect public health and consumers’ rights, to ensure the professional standard of Chinese medicine practice, and to manage the trade of Chinese medicines through self-regulation.
The council provides Chinese medicine professionals, traders of Chinese medicines, and the public with information on the functions of the Chinese Medicine Council, the framework of the regulatory system of Chinese medicine, and details of the regulatory measures.”
List of Registered Chinese Medicine Practitioners
“The Dental Council of Hong Kong is established under the Laws of Hong Kong Dentist Registration Ordinance. It provides the registration and regulation of the dental profession in order to protect patients, foster ethical conduct, and develop and upkeep the ethical standard of the profession. The Dental Council is responsible for the registration of dentists, the conduct of the Licensing Examination, the maintenance of ethics and professional standards, as well as, the discipline of the profession.”
Dental Council of Hong Kong
“The Pharmacy and Poisons Board of Hong Kong is established under the Laws of Hong under the Pharmacy and Poisons Ordinance, its primary function is to carry out registration of pharmacists, including the prescription of training required for registration, as well as, the organization of registration examinations and the issue of registration certificates and annual practicing certificates.
The board also conducts Disciplinary Committees, licensing and regulatory control of retail traders of pharmaceutical products, inspections and test purchases, and initiates prosecution of offenses. Lastly, the board requires licensing, registration, and regulatory control of wholesale dealers and manufacturers of pharmaceutical products.”
List of Registered Pharmacists
Pharmacy and Poisons Board of Hong Kong
“The Nurses Registration Ordinance is established to ensure the quality of nursing practice in Hong Kong through the establishment of a registration system and the provision of guidance and intervention with discipline. Its objective is to provide the community with nurses of the highest professional standard and conduct. The main functions of the Council are to be responsible for the registration or enrolment of practitioners, to recognize courses of nursing training, to determine standards of Licensing Examinations for all branches of nursing and to be responsible for conducting the examinations; and lastly to exercise the regulatory and disciplinary powers for the profession.”
Nursing Council of Hong Kong
“The Midwives Council is a statutory authority established under the Midwives Registration Ordinance, the councils objective and function is to provide the community with midwives of the highest professional standard and conduct. The main functions are to register any person satisfying the criteria for registration as a midwife and desiring such registration; to recognize courses of midwifery training for the purpose of registration; to determine standards of examinations for registration and to conduct such examinations; to exercise the regulatory and disciplinary powers for the profession.”
Midwives Council Secretariat
“The Medical Laboratory Technologists Board was established under the Laws of Hong Kong under the Supplementary Medical Professions Ordinance in 1981. The functions of the Medical Laboratory Technologists Board are to maintain a register of medical laboratory technologists; to promote adequate standards of professional practice and of professional conduct among registered medical laboratory technologists; to carry out the functions assigned to it by the Ordinance.”
List of registered medical laboratory technologists
Medical Laboratory Technologists Board of the Supplementary Medical Professions Council
“The Occupational Therapists Board was established under the Laws of Hong Kong as the Supplementary Medical Professions Ordinance in 1981. The functions of the Occupational Therapists Board are to maintain a register of occupational therapists; to promote adequate standards of professional practice and of professional conduct among registered occupational therapists; to carry out the functions assigned to it by the Ordinance.”
List of Registered Occupational Therapists
Occupational Therapists Board of the Supplementary Medical Professions Council
“The Optometrists Board was established under the Supplementary Medical Professions Ordinance, under the Laws of Hong Kong, in 1986. The functions of the Optometrists Board are to maintain a register of optometrists; to promote adequate standards of professional practice and of professional conduct among registered optometrists; to carry out the functions assigned to it by the Ordinance.”
List of Registered Optometrists
Optometrists Board of the Supplementary Medical Professions Council
“The Radiographers Board was established by the Laws of Hong Kong under the Supplementary Medical Professions Ordinance in 1981. The functions of the Radiographers Board are to maintain a register of radiographers; to promote adequate standards of professional practice and of professional conduct among registered radiographers; to carry out the functions assigned to it by the Ordinance.”
List of Registered Radiographers
Radiographers Board of the Supplementary Medical Professions Council
“The Physiotherapists Board was established by the Laws of Hong Kong under the Supplementary Medical Professions Ordinance in 1981. The functions of the Physiotherapists Board are to maintain a register of physiotherapists; to promote adequate standards of professional practice and of professional conduct among registered physiotherapists; to carry out the functions assigned to it by the Ordinance.”
List of Registered Physiotherapists
Physiotherapists Board of the Supplementary Medical Professions Council
“The Chiropractors Council was established by the Laws of Hong Kong under the Chiropractors Registration Ordinance in 1993. The functions of the Chiropractors Council are to establish and maintain a register of chiropractors; set and review the qualification standards for registration as a registered chiropractor; examine and verify the qualifications of persons who apply for registration as registered chiropractors; receive, examine, accept or reject applications for registration and renewal of registration as a registered chiropractor; to oversee disciplinary offences.”
List of Registered Chiropractors
This article was independently written by Healthy Matters. It is informative only and not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. It should not be relied upon for specific medical advice.
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