Medical Laboratory Technologists Board meets representatives of training institutions and professional associations
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A meeting was held by the MLT Board yesterday (June 26) with representatives of training institutions and professional associations to provide detailed explanations and communicate on the decision of the MLT Board in 2024 about the review and amendment of accreditation criteria of programmes, in maintaining the total required hours for training, to amend the minimum hours for clinical practice/attachment in the major four basic areas, namely "Clinical Microbiology & Infection", "Anatomical Pathology", "Chemical Pathology" and "Haematology" to 50 hours each, with the released 200 hours for training institutions to flexibly allocate to new and rapidly evolving medical laboratory science subjects, such as clinical immunology, artificial intelligence, molecular techniques and genetic testing etc., and/or to perform enhanced clinical practice/attachment in the four basic areas as well as in the new areas.
The MLT Board reiterated at the meeting that the overall minimal training hours would remain unchanged, and it was a misunderstanding to perceive the arrangement as cutting down training hours. The updated training requirement would facilitate training institutions with the flexibility to enable continuous transition/improvement of the curriculum both in existing and new programmes, to better prepare our students for the challenge of quickly evolving medical technologies, while maintaining professional standards.
Under the Supplementary Medical Professions Ordinance (Cap. 359) and the Medical Laboratory Technologists (Registration and Disciplinary Procedure) Regulations (Cap. 359A) (Ordinance and Regulations), the MLT Board was empowered to promote adequate standards of professional practice and conduct among members of the profession. The Ordinance and Regulations specified that all MLTs must obtain at least three years of post-qualification experience involving intensive on-the-job training under supervision before they could practise independently to ensure patients' safety.
The MLT Board had invited institutions to submit their updated curriculum on the training of MLT for approval. The MLT Board will continue to communicate with the MLT industry, training institutions and healthcare professions to ensure patient safety and enhance professional standard.
Ends/Friday, June 27, 2025
Issued at HKT 21:47
Issued at HKT 21:47
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