DH actively follows up on registered Chinese medicine practitioner suspected of improperly issuing sick leave certificates
In response to media reports alleging that a registered Chinese medicine practitioner (CMP) issued sick leave certificates without conducting consultations and is suspected of improperly issuing such certificates, the Department of Health today (October 20) has referred the case to the Chinese Medicine Council of Hong Kong (CMCHK) and the Hong Kong Police Force for investigation and follow-up.
Registered and listed CMPs in Hong Kong are required to comply with the Code of Professional Conduct for Chinese Medicine Practitioners (the Code) and relevant guidelines promulgated by the CMCHK. In relation to the issuance of sick leave certificates, CMPs should follow theReference Guide on Issuance of Sick Leave Certificate and Certificate of Attendance by Registered Chinese Medicine Practitionersand, based on their professional judgment and the individual circumstances of each patient, to issue appropriate sick leave certificates where justified.
Where a CMP, in the course of professional practice, engages in conduct that falls short of the standards reasonably expected of members of the Chinese medicine profession, the Chinese Medicine Practitioners Board of the CMCHK and its Disciplinary Committee will handle the matter in accordance with the procedures set out in the Chinese Medicine Practitioners (Discipline) Regulation (Cap. 549D), a subsidiary legislation under the Chinese Medicine Ordinance, and the Code. In the past, CMPs who issued misleading or false sick leave certificates were, following investigation and disciplinary inquiries by the CMCHK, found guilty of professional misconduct and removed from the Register of Chinese Medicine Practitioners.
The Department of Health. Photo source: reference image
Members of the public who are dissatisfied with the practice or professional conduct of a registered or listed CMP may lodge a written complaint with the Chinese Medicine Practitioners Board of the CMCHK. Details of the complaint procedures are available on the CMCHK's website for public reference.
CEDD signs MOU with Nanjing University of Science and Technology
The Civil Engineering and Development Department (CEDD) and the Nanjing University of Science and Technology (NJUST) signed a three-year Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in Nanjing today (October 21) to enhance collaboration in the fields of civil explosives and safe blasting technologies.
The MOU was jointly signed by the Director of Civil Engineering and Development and the Commissioner of Mines, Mr Michael Fong, and the President of the NJUST, Professor Yang Yixin. The scope of co-operation covers personnel training, technical exchanges, and the promotion of research, development, and application of frontier technologies, with a view to enhancing the safety and efficiency of blasting operations in infrastructure projects.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Mr Fong expressed his hope that deepening co-operation would further enhance the professional capabilities of frontline regulatory and operational personnel. He added that the collaboration will drive the digital and intelligent development of civil explosives technology and management, thereby providing efficient and safe technical support for works projects such as those in the Northern Metropolis, while assisting in promoting the country's advanced civil explosives technologies to overseas markets.
Professor Yang stated that the civil explosives field is continuously advancing towards safe development and high-quality development in accordance with the National 15th Five-Year Plan. Capitalising on its research experience and technological edge in frontier blasting safety, the NJUST will combine its expertise with the engineering practice and practical applications of the CEDD to achieve in-depth synergy.
The NJUST is a national key university affiliated with the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. Many of its research achievements in fields such as chemistry, chemical engineering, and energetic materials hold leading positions both domestically and internationally. The university houses the China National Quality Inspection and Testing Center for Industrial Explosive Materials, which is a recognised national-level statutory inspection agency.
The Civil Engineering and Development Department (CEDD) and the Nanjing University of Science and Technology (NJUST) signed a three-year Memorandum of Understanding in Nanjing today (October 21). Photo shows the Director of Civil Engineering and Development and the Commissioner of Mines, Mr Michael Fong (sixth left), the President of the NJUST, Professor Yang Yixin (sixth right), and other representatives of the CEDD and the NJUST. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
The Civil Engineering and Development Department and the Nanjing University of Science and Technology (NJUST) signed a three-year Memorandum of Understanding in Nanjing today (October 21). Photo shows the Director of Civil Engineering and Development and the Commissioner of Mines, Mr Michael Fong (left), and the President of the NJUST, Professor Yang Yixin (right), at the signing ceremony. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
