Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Remarks by S for Health at media session on incident of errors in embryo biopsy specimens
Reporter: Would the Government consider penalising Heal Fertility (Limited), given that it has not reported the case to the Department of Health within 24 hours? Why cannot the CUHK, when the case starts, notify the Council on Human Reproductive Technology, but they had to report to Heal Fertility (Limited) to report to the Council?
Secretary for Health: According to the Private Healthcare Facilities Ordinance (Cap. 633), day procedure centres have to report any serious untoward incidents within 24 hours. So in this particular incident, the centre has definitely breached this requirement, and the Department of Health has already requested the centre to provide a report within four weeks. Based on the report and further investigation findings, the Department of Health will consider any regulatory action for the breach of the Private Healthcare Facilities Ordinance.
Reporter: What measures would the Government implement to ensure timely reporting of these facilities in the future?
Secretary for Health: About the Private Healthcare Facilities Ordinance (Cap. 633), there is already a code of practice that these day procedure centres have to report serious untoward incidents within 24 hours. But for the part of the human reproductive technology, there is no definite time limit for reporting. Considering the fact that this is a little bit more complicated, the centre has decided to investigate further before reporting to the Council. Whether we need to put in a time frame for reporting, we will consider that after we have the full investigation report for this incident.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the remarks.)
Issued at HKT 18:37
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