Will Hong Kong’s Medical Council get it right during second vote on overseas hires?
- The council will meet on Wednesday to vote on ways to relax admission rules for overseas doctors
- Last month, it rejected four options aimed at easing staff shortage in city’s public hospitals
Intense lobbying by various interest groups in Hong Kong’s doctor-licensing body is under way as its members will meet on Wednesday to vote for a second time on ways to relax admission rules for overseas doctors, amid mounting concerns over staff shortages at public hospitals.
None of the proposals expected to be put to vote at the Medical Council meeting appeared to have received majority support from members so far, it was understood.
Wednesday’s vote follows a council meeting last month in which all four proposals that would make it easier for overseas doctors to practise in Hong Kong were vetoed in secret voting. The outcome triggered public criticism over doctor protectionism and prompted calls for abridging the council’s power in the vetting of imported overseas doctors.
The Medical Council agreed to meet again to discuss the issue.
The council comprises 24 registered medical practitioners and eight lay members. Seven of the seats are reserved for members of the Medical Association, which represents the interest of local medical profession, and there are three lay members elected by patient organisations.
