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Government stresses that telehealth services should be provided by qualified healthcare professionals in accordance with professional guidelines
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     Regarding the Consumer Council's study findings on "Enhancing Governance in Telehealth: Fostering Consumer Trust and Innovation", the Health Bureau today (August 20) stated that to ensure healthcare quality and safety and to safeguard citizen’s health, the Government's long-standing position is that any kind of medical service (including in-person consultations or telehealth services) should be provided by qualified healthcare professionals, whose delivery is governed by the regulatory boards and councils of relevant healthcare professions. Such healthcare professionals bear professional responsibility and must act in the interest of patients. Their standard of practice must not be compromised based on the service mode (whether by means of in-person consultations or telehealth services).
 
     Currently, the Medical Council of Hong Kong and the Chinese Medicine Practitioners Board under the Chinese Medicine Council of Hong Kong have already promulgated guidelines for the telehealth practice (see Annexes), covering operational issues such as establishing a doctor-patient relationship, evaluating patients' suitability for telehealth services, obtaining informed consent and protecting patient privacy.
 
     Telehealth services allow citizens to access healthcare services without leaving their homes; however, they may not be suitable for all scenarios particularly when patients may need on-site clinical examinations for accurate diagnosis and treatment. This involves the professional judgment of healthcare professionals. The Government will ensure that the boards and councils of various healthcare professions would formulate and update specific telehealth guidelines in a timely manner based on their professional practice and operational needs, with a view to protecting the interests of patients and healthcare professionals. When seeking medical services, members of the public should ascertain that the service provider is a qualified healthcare professional to safeguard their own safety and interests. In case of complaints against the telehealth services provided by healthcare professionals, the public may contact the regulatory boards and councils of relevant healthcare professions.
 
Ends/Wednesday, August 20, 2025
Issued at HKT 21:58
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