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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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