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Following is the question by the Hon Tang Siu-tong and a written reply by the Secretary for Economic Development and Labour, Mr Stephen Ip, in the Legislative Council today (January 14):

Question:

The first batch of over 2 000 listed Chinese medical practitioners ("CMPs") were accepted as registered CMPs in November last year. The Hospital Authority is progressing with the plan of setting up 18 Chinese medicine out-patient clinics by 2005, and the Administration is also consulting the relevant parties on the role of registered CMPs under the relevant labour legislation. As the Chinese medicine profession has progressively been gaining professional status, will the Government inform this Council whether:

(a) it will amend the Employees' Compensation Ordinance (Cap. 282) to bring Chinese medicine expenses and CMPs' fees into the ambit of "medical expenses" in the Ordinance and hence into the coverage of mandatory employee insurance; if it will, of the legislative timetable; if not, the reasons for that; and

(b) it will adopt measures to encourage the insurance sector to include Chinese medicine expenses and CMPs' fees in the coverage of optional medical insurance; if so, of the details of the measures; if not, the reasons for that?

Reply:

Madam President,

(a) With the setting up of the statutory regulatory framework for Chinese medicine and considering that registered Chinese medicine practitioners (CMPs) are competent in performing certain medical functions stipulated under relevant labour laws, the Administration considers it appropriate that the relevant legislation should recognise treatment by registered CMPs and be amended accordingly.

The Department of Justice is currently drafting a bill to amend the Employees' Compensation Ordinance (ECO) to recognise the medical functions that can be performed by registered CMPs under the Ordinance. The proposed legislative amendments also include a provision for the reimbursement of medical expenses (including consultation fee and the cost of medicines) to employees who are injured on duty and have incurred such expenses for receiving medical treatment from registered CMPs in respect of the work injury. The Administration has consulted the Panel on Manpower of the Legislative Council on the proposed amendments, and has received its support. We aim to introduce the amendment bill into the Legislative Council in the next legislative session.

Under the ECO, all employers are required to take out employees compensation insurance to cover their liabilities under the Ordinance and the common law in respect of their employees. Upon enactment of the amendment ordinance by the Legislative Council and its implementation, the medical expenses paid by employees for receiving medical treatment from registered CMPs in respect of the work injury can be reimbursed through the employees' compensation insurance taken out by their employers.

(b) At present, the insurance market provides medical insurance policies covering Chinese medicine expenses and consultation fees. The Administration considers that the insurance coverage should continue to be negotiated by the insurer and the insured.

Ends/Wednesday, January 14, 2004

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