Hospital Authority to introduce electronic maternity/sick leave certificates and maternity leave certificates
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The Hospital Authority (HA) announced today (April 20) that, following the digitalisation of medical certificates (commonly known as sick leave certificates) and attendance certificates, maternity/sick leave certificates and maternity leave certificates issued by the HA will also adopt a digital signature with an electronic version starting from April 24 this year. These digital certificates will replace the traditional, manually signed paper certificates.
Same as the manually signed traditional certificate, the digital signature on the electronic maternity/sick leave certificate issued by a doctor, and the maternity leave certificate issued by a midwife, holds the same legal effect. The digitally signed certificates will include name of patient, proof of pregnancy, the expected date of confinement and recommended sick leave, etc.
All electronic certificates, including medical certificates, maternity/sick leave certificates, maternity leave certificates, and attendance certificates, display an encrypted QR code that allows verification of the electronic certificate (see Annex 1). They are automatically stored in the "Records" feature of the HA's mobile application HA Go (see Annex 2 and Annex 3). The electronic certificates could be used for sick leave application or proof of consultation. Patients can print out the certificates where necessary. For the patient issued with an attendance certificate, the electronic version will also be stored in HA Go.
The spokesperson for the HA said that the digitalisation of medical certificates issued by the HA for sick leave, maternity leave, and attendance marks an important milestone in the development of smart hospitals. In addition to streamlining the process of telehealth services and enhancing patient satisfaction, the digitalisation of certificates also reduces the risk of losing paper certificates, facilitates patient access, and improves the overall patient experience. While printed copies of electronic certificates will still be available for patients at this stage, the HA encourages patients to opt for electronic certificates in the future.
Ends/Monday, April 20, 2026
Issued at HKT 14:28
Issued at HKT 14:28
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