Medical watchdog opposes mandatory deadlines for complaint processing
The Medical Council has submitted a written response to the Legislative Council, arguing that setting statutory target time frames for complaint handling is unnecessary and should be managed administratively. It also rejects other proposed reforms to disciplinary sentencing, supervision, and membership. The council has formed a working group to study the bill's implications.
The Medical Council's rebuttal, submitted by chairwoman Professor Grace Tang Wai-king, was filed with the Legislative Council's bills committee and later posted online. The council has created an internal working group to examine the proposed amendment bill's potential effects on its operations.
The government's late-June proposal sought to enhance the watchdog's efficiency and accountability. However, the council maintains that statutory deadlines for complaint steps are unnecessary, suggesting administrative management is sufficient, mirroring practices used by other public bodies. It also opposes changes to sentencing, supervision, and membership structure.
Patients seeking redress could face continued uncertainty if the council avoids binding timelines, while doctors may benefit from less rigid administrative burdens. The rejection of broader governance reforms might also slow systemic improvements in medical oversight, potentially leaving accountability mechanisms unchanged for now.