Operators of clinics in Hong Kong will have to apply for a licence or an exemption letter from October 13 as part of the government’s push to tighten regulations on private healthcare facilities.
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The Health Bureau said on Wednesday that the new rules would be gazetted on Friday.
They will then be presented to the Legislative Council on Wednesday next week for “negative vetting”, a process that allows laws to come into force before authorities receive the green light from lawmakers.
The changes are part of the Private Healthcare Facilities Ordinance, which was passed in 2018 but enacted in phases, starting with hospitals in 2019 and day procedure centres in 2020.
A licence will be required to operate a clinic under the ordinance, which stipulates specific requirements for areas such as staffing and equipment. Codes of practice related to clinic operations will also be gazetted on Friday and come into effect on October 13.
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Clinics that opened on or before November 30, 2018, can apply for a licence between October and April 13 next year. A provisional licence may be issued by the Department of Health to allow operators to have more time to make changes, such as modifying accommodation layout.
Those that started operating after the 2018 date can apply for a full licence from October.