Replies to LegCo questions
LCQ14: Allied health professionals
Following is a question by Dr Hon Joseph Lee Kok-long and a written reply
by the Secretary for Food and Health, Dr Ko Wing-man, in the Legislative
Council today (March 27):
Question:
Allied health professionals include medical laboratory technologists,
radiographers, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, optometrists,
dental hygienists, audiologists, podiatrists, dietitians, orthoptists,
clinical psychologists, prosthetists, speech therapists, pharmacists and
dispensers, etc. Quite a number of allied health professionals have
pointed out that with the development in healthcare services in Hong Kong,
the demand for allied health services has continuously increased, and
their job nature, work requirements and qualification levels have also
undergone significant changes; besides, various types of allied health
services also face problems such as manpower shortage and recruitment
difficulties, etc. In this connection, will the Government inform this
Council:
(a) of the respective entry qualification requirements for the various
allied health grades in the present public healthcare system (including
the Hospital Authority and the Department of Health);
(b) whether the authorities will conduct a comprehensive review of the
qualification requirements for the allied health professionals mentioned
in (a), and determine afresh the respective remuneration levels of various
allied health grades based on the qualification requirements and job
nature of such grades; and
(c) given that some allied health professionals have pointed out that at
present, some allied health professions are not yet included in any
statutory regulatory regime, resulting in an increasing number of people
in the market claiming to be healthcare personnel of such professions and
providing members of the public with services which do not meet the
relevant professional standards, and such a situation may jeopardise
public health, whether the authorities will reconsider incorporating such
professions in a statutory regulatory regime; if they will, of the
details; if not, the reasons for that?
Reply:
President,
(a) The allied health professionals currently employed in the public
healthcare sector include civil servants in the Department of Health (DH)
and non-civil service staff of the Hospital Authority (HA). Under the
existing civil service system, non-directorate civilian grades are
classified into 12 Qualification Groups (QGs) according to their entry
qualifications. The entry requirements for each grade and rank are
normally set with reference to academic or professional qualifications,
technical skills, working experience, language proficiency and other
qualities as required on the basis of the operational needs of the
grade/rank concerned. Information on the 12 QGs, the allied health grades
of DH under each QG and the entry requirements/qualifications for their
basic ranks are provided in Annex 1. When formulating the pay structure of
the allied health grades, HA generally makes reference to and adopts the
arrangements of the relevant civil service grades. There are currently no
audiologist, podiatrist and prosthetist-orthotist grades in DH. The entry
requirements and qualifications for these three grades as set out by HA
are at Annex 2.
(b) As to whether the entry requirements for allied health grades should
be reviewed or not, it depends on whether there are fundamental changes in
the job nature, level of responsibilities and job complexity of the grade
induced by factors other than the rising aspiration of the community,
changes in economy and social landscape, as well as advances in technology
and technological application, etc. If there are proven and persistent
recruitment and retention difficulties, or if there are fundamental
changes in the job nature, level of responsibilities and job complexity of
any grade, a grade structure review can be proposed according to the
existing mechanism. On the other hand, HA will also from time to time
review the demand and supply of manpower for various grades, and conduct
targeted reviews on individual allied health grades having regard to their
service provision and professional development needs as and when
necessary.
(c) In the face of challenges such as growing and ageing population as
well as increasing public demand for healthcare services, the Government
has established a high-level steering committee, chaired by the Secretary
for Food and Health, to conduct a strategic review on healthcare manpower
planning and professional development. The Steering Committee will
formulate recommendations on how to cope with anticipated demand for
healthcare manpower, strengthen professional training and facilitate
professional development having regard to the findings of the strategic
review, with a view to ensuring the healthy and sustainable development of
our healthcare system. The review will cover 13 healthcare disciplines
that are subject to statutory regulation. For disciplines currently not
subject to statutory regulation, the Other Healthcare Professionals
Sub-group under the Steering Committee will discuss on the future
development of the relevant professions where necessary. The review is
expected to conclude in 2013.
Ends/Wednesday, March 27, 2013
Issued at HKT 18:05
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LCQ14 Annex