Citizens must be referred by doctors to receive services such as physiotherapists. Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor today (6th) released the last "policy address" in his term. It mentioned that the Food and Health Bureau will study and amend the law to allow doctors to be referred without a referral. Let citizens directly receive services such as physiotherapy and occupational therapy to avoid delays in treatment.
According to the news, it is impossible to complete the amendment in the current government.
Some orthopedic specialists said that the patient's pain may not be related to muscles and bones, and may even be a symptom of cancer. They are worried that the lack of doctor referrals after the amendment will miss the patients and delay the treatment of important diseases.
The Hong Kong Physiotherapy Association retorted that the training included screening of patients with severe illnesses such as cancer. Foreign studies have also shown that the level of patient safety has not changed after the implementation of doctor-free referral.
▼Chief Executive Carrie Lam's policy address 2021 lazy bag▼
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Orthopedic specialist: fear of leaking cancer cases
Carrie Lam said that the government has been taking multi-pronged measures to increase medical manpower, including local medical training places and the introduction of non-locally trained medical personnel.
She said that the government needs to strengthen the role of other medical professions in the local medical system, especially in primary care. The Food and Health Bureau will follow up with the statutory boards and committees of various medical professions in the 2017 "Medical Manpower Planning and Professional Development" A number of recommendations in the "Strategic Review" include amending the law to allow the public to choose direct medical professional services, such as physical therapy and occupational therapy, without the referral of doctors, so as to avoid delays in treatment.
The source said that there is no timetable for the amendment, but it cannot be completed by the current government.
Orthopedic specialist Yuan Zhibin said that 60 to 70% of orthopedic patients will be referred to physical therapists, including those with degeneration of the waist and knees. Intensive exercises in the early stages of illness can prevent deterioration; patients after surgery must undergo rehabilitation treatment.
He mentioned that there are different possibilities for patients to feel pain. "Some people are suffering from strain and may also have symptoms of cancer." The general public may not be able to distinguish without medical knowledge. Although physical therapists are also capable of discovering the relevant conditions, they have already Delay in treatment, worry about the progress of the patient's recovery from serious illnesses.
Legislative Council Medical Member Chen Pei-yan said that the current practice of protecting the well-being of patients is to refer patients to appropriate professions for follow-up and treatment after detailed diagnosis by doctors.
Once the government cancels this effective mechanism, there may be misdiagnosis, delayed treatment, or other more far-reaching effects.
The Physiotherapy Society rebuts: patient safety will not be affected after the implementation in foreign countries
Peng Yiu-chung, president of the Hong Kong Physiotherapy Association, pointed out that the training of physiotherapists includes screening for diseases that have nothing to do with muscles and bones. It’s painful because of moving.” It also understands the patient’s activity range, how long the pain lasts, etc., determines whether it is cancer-related pain, and then refers to the doctor for follow-up.
He also mentioned that after the implementation of the "free of doctor referral" system in foreign countries, the safety of patients will not be affected, and the disability due to muscles and bones and medical costs have even been reduced.
Peng Hongchang, a member of the "Referral Exemption Working Group" of the Physiotherapist Management Committee, said that the "exemption of doctor referral" has been discussed for many years. Doctors and physiotherapists have their own reasons, revealing that the Chinese University School of Medicine will start to study the opinions and operation of various circles. .
He mentioned that most physiotherapy services are provided by public hospitals. After the implementation of "Doctor-Free Referral", the number of patients received by the Hospital Authority may rise again. I believe public hospitals may still require doctor referrals to avoid The patients swarmed in.
In addition, Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor has also called to ensure the professional standards of medical personnel. The government will legislate to promote mandatory continuing professional training and or continuous professional development to paramedical professionals under the regulations, as well as nurses and dentists.
The Food and Health Bureau will also take into account the voluntary experience of the "Recognized Medical Professional Registration Pilot Scheme" that is currently being implemented, and explore the use of professional medical personnel who do not have a statutory registration system, such as clinical psychologists, speech therapists, dietitians, etc. , To introduce a statutory registration system to protect the interests of the general public.
As for the Chinese medicine sector, in order to promote the long-term development of the industry, the government will explore empowering Chinese medicine practitioners to instruct patients to undergo diagnostic imaging tests (such as X-rays) and laboratory tests.
▼ 10.6 Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor reads the policy address 2021▼
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