【原文】特區政府修訂正在立法會審議的《醫生註冊（修訂）條例草案》，進一步放寬屬非香港永久性居民的合資格非本地培訓專科醫生申請來港執業。本港人口老化嚴重，醫護短缺嚴峻，加大引入非本地醫護專才有現實需要和迫切性，原建議的修訂限定引入海外醫生必須是香港永久居民，範圍太窄。特區政府今次放寬限制因應本港現實情況，合乎廣大市民利益，值得肯定和支持。在落實過程中，特區政府一方面要嚴格執行考核制度，維持本港醫療質素和水平，另一方面要照顧現有醫生的福利待遇，以利加快引入海外醫生的步伐。

立法會正審議的《醫生註冊（修訂）條例草案》，根據特區政府最新建議，放寬予非本地居民的專科醫生可免試來港執業。此項修訂回應了條例草案委員會早前三次會議上議員提出的意見，反映特區政府從善如流，為引入海外專科醫生拆牆鬆綁，以解本港「醫生荒」的燃眉之急。

醫護短缺一直是本港公營醫療系統面對的一大難題，隨着人口老化和人才流失，問題日益突出。特區政府預計到2040年短缺近2,000名醫生，多位業界人士指出，實際情況更為嚴峻。

醫生在全球範圍都是緊缺人才，各國各地均展開醫生爭奪戰。倘若本港仍然限定引入海外醫生必須是香港永久居民，對更多專業、專科海外醫生來港設立難以跨越的關卡，不利紓緩本港醫生短缺的問題。況且，在人才流動日益全球化的今日，輸入人才不應該自我設限，只要達到認可的專業水平，應該做到人才莫問出處。

當然，對輸入的海外醫生質素，香港必須設立嚴謹的資歷審核機制。今次特區政府提出的修訂，放寬至非香港永久性居民的僅限專科醫生，還要獲得本港的醫專認可，才能在港取得正式註冊。至於未在境外完成實習的海外畢業醫生，仍要求屬香港永久性居民，及需參加本港的執業資格試。只要認真嚴格執行這些嚴格的審核機制，對海外醫生的質素有足夠把關，相信可以維持市民對香港醫療水平的信心。

由於本港醫生人手本來就供不應求，適當放寬輸入海外醫生範圍，並不會影響現時本港醫生的福利待遇。特區政府也承諾，醫管局會提供足夠職位聘請所有合資格的本地醫科畢業生，並為他們提供專科培訓機會。

其實，輸入海外醫生可以促進本港醫療體系持續優化，改善醫生的工作環境，為市民提供更優質的醫療服務，對全體醫護和全港市民都是好事。 （摘錄自香港《文匯報》社評 2021-9-1）

Hong Kong to Relax Rules to Bring in Talents and Ease Doctor Shortage

【譯文】The SAR Government has proposed revisions to the Medical Registration (Amendment) Bill that is currently pending approval from the Legislative Council, as it seeks to allow non-permanent residents-who are trained overseas but hold the recognised medical qualifications-to practice as specialists in Hong Kong. The acute problem of population ageing has been aggravating the shortage of healthcare manpower in the city. This results in a realistic and urgent need to step up efforts in attracting more non-local healthcare professionals to Hong Kong. The previous amendments of the bill were too strict, as they proposed that in order for a non-locally trained doctor to be eligible for full or special registration in Hong Kong, he or she must be a Hong Kong permanent resident. The Government's efforts to relax the rules in view of the city's present situation are consistent with the public interest and deserve recognition and support. In finalising the bill, the Government should, on one hand, ensure the strict implementation of the evaluation mechanism to maintain the quality and standards of the healthcare system in Hong Kong, and on the other hand, give careful consideration to the benefits and remuneration of the city's existing doctors, in order to facilitate the import of overseas specialists.

According to the Medical Registration (Amendment) Bill which has been tabled to the Legislative Council for the first reading, the SAR Government proposes to relax the requirements for hiring doctors and allow non-permanent residents to practice as specialists in Hong Kong without taking the local licensing examination. The proposed amendments were made in response to the views put forward by members of the Bills Committee in three previous meetings. It shows that the SAR Government is receptive to the suggestions and willing to relax the rules to bring in overseas medical specialists as a way to alleviate the severe shortage of doctors in Hong Kong.

Medical staff shortage has been a major issue in the public healthcare system in Hong Kong. The problem has been aggravated by an ageing population and brain drain. The SAR Government estimates that the city will be short nearly 2,000 doctors by 2040. Several members of the industry said the actual situation is more serious than that.

There is a global shortage of doctors, and countries and regions around the world have been competing for medical personnel. If only permanent resident doctors are allowed to practice in Hong Kong, it will create an insurmountable hurdle for foreign doctors with professional specialist qualifications who wish to work here and hinder the Government's effort to address the doctor shortage. Moreover, given the increased mobility of professional workers in this highly globalised world, Hong Kong should not restrict its selection of candidates and evaluate them by their resident status, but instead focus on their recognised professional qualifications.

Obviously, the Government must establish a stringent mechanism to vet specialist qualifications in order to ensure the quality of imported doctors. While the SAR Government suggests to expand the original hiring scheme to cover non-permanent Hong Kong residents, the proposed amendment applies only to specialist doctors, whose qualifications, under the proposal, will have to be recognised by the Hong Kong Academy of Medicine in order for them to gain full registration in Hong Kong. As for those who have graduated from overseas medical schools but have yet to complete their internship, they will have to be a permanent resident and pass the local licensing examination before they can practice in Hong Kong. It is believed that if the Government can strictly implement this mechanism and have enough measures in place to monitor the quality of overseas-trained doctors, it will manage to maintain public confidence in the healthcare system in Hong Kong.

Given that doctors have been in short supply in Hong Kong, relaxing the rules for overseas-trained doctors through implementation of appropriate measures will not affect the benefits and remuneration of local doctors. The SAR Government has also promised that the Hospital Authority will provide sufficient employment and specialist training opportunities to all qualified local medical graduates. Indeed, admitting overseas-trained doctors will help facilitate the continuous enhancement of the local healthcare system and the work environment of doctors. This will ensure the provision of quality healthcare services to Hong Kong citizens and benefit both healthcare workers and the public.●Kit Siu