Gov’t to roll out licensing regime for clinics and SPCs

Clinics operating as of 30 November 2018 have until 13 April next year to apply for a licence.

The government announced that commencement notices for the implementation of the regulatory regime for clinics and small practice clinics (SPCs) under the Private Healthcare Facilities Ordinance will be published in the Government Gazette this Friday.

Under the ordinance, premises where registered medical practitioners or dentists provide services must obtain a license to operate.

Licensees will be required to comply with the ordinance, licence conditions, and the codes of practice issued by the Director of Health.

The Department of Health will begin accepting applications for licences and requests for letters of exemption for SPCs from 13 October onwards.

Clinics that were already in operation on 30 November 2018, will have until 13 April next year to apply for a licence, and may be issued a provisional licence to continue operating while their applications are being processed.

Meanwhile, operators of SPCs must ask the department for a letter of exemption from holding a licence to continue operating.

The commencement notices will be tabled at the Legislative Council meeting on 28 May for negative vetting.