Press Releases
SFH begins visit to London (with photos)
The Secretary for Food and Health, Dr Ko Wing-man, began his two-day
visit to London, the United Kingdom (UK), by meeting with the Chief
Executive of the Professional Standards Authority for Health and
Social Care, Mr Harry Cayton, and the Authority's Director of Standard
and Policy, Ms Christine Braithwaite, this morning (May 16, London
time).
Overseeing statutory bodies that regulate health and social care
professionals in the UK, the Authority sets standards for
organisations holding voluntary registers for health and social care
occupations and accredits those that meet them. It monitors policy
developments in the UK and internationally, and provides advice on
issues relating to professional standards in health and social care.
In the afternoon, Dr Ko met the Chairman of the Complementary and
Natural Healthcare Council (CNHC), Mr John Lant, the Chief Executive
of the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE),
Sir Andrew Dillon, and the Director of Centre for Public Health
Excellence of NICE, Professor Mike Kelly, to exchange views on areas
including regulation of health-care facilities, manpower planning and
professional development, development of clinical guidelines, as well
as other health and medical issues on both sides.
The CNHC, with government support, regulates complementary therapies
such as aromatherapy, healing, hypnotherapy, massage therapy,
naturopathy, nutritional therapy, reflexology, shiatsu, sports therapy
and yoga therapy. The NICE is an independent organisation under the
UK's public health-care system, providing guidance on quality
standards for illness treatment and prevention.
During the meetings, Dr Ko said that the Hong Kong Government
established the Steering Committee on Review of the Regulation of
Private Healthcare Facilities in October last year with an aim of
strengthening regulatory control of private health-care facilities in
order to safeguard people's health.
The Hong Kong Government would take the opportunity to learn more and
make reference to the UK's experience in regulating complementary
therapies and ways to enhance the standard of medical services, he
said.
Dr Ko will call on the Care Quality Commission and the National Health
Service tomorrow (May 17, London time) before departing for Germany to
visit a Chinese medicine clinic in Kotzting on May 18 (Germany time).
He will attend the 66th World Health Assembly of the World Health
Organization in Geneva, Switzerland, on May 20 (Geneva time).
Ends/Friday, May 17, 2013
Issued at HKT 06:47
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