Secretary for Health Prof Lo Chung-mau today chaired the first consultation meeting with patient groups to hear their views on improving the complaint handling mechanism of the Medical Council of Hong Kong (MCHK).

The Government launched the consultation as it will introduce a bill to the Legislative Council in the first half of this year to amend the Medical Registration Ordinance.

Prof Lo said the public has high expectations of the MCHK in discharging its primary responsibility for safeguarding doctors' professional standards and ethical conduct, noting that the patient groups are important stakeholders.

“They offered highly constructive suggestions at today's meeting. I look forward to continuing in-depth discussions with other stakeholders to explore proposals to improve the complaint handling mechanism of the council,” he said.

At the request of the Secretary for Health, the MCHK earlier submitted a report on improving its complaint handling mechanism to the Health Bureau.

The bureau is reviewing the report and the supplementary information provided by the MCHK, and will consider the report's recommendations and the council’s operational needs in proposing amendments to the ordinance.