Council chairman Clement Chan Kam-wing said Hong Kong’s public sector telehealth was on a par with those in other countries but the private sector’s operational guidelines, which cover Chinese and Western medical practitioners, were lacking when it came to telehealth platforms operated by insurance companies and non-medical business operators providing access to doctors.
The survey found that Hong Kong’s private telehealth services need more transparency and guidance, and the watchdog called on the health authorities to offer detailed guidelines and for the industry to specify qualified service providers. The council also identified trade practice issues, including privacy and security concerns.
Online consultations can help ease the workflow and burden of the public healthcare system. The Health Bureau has pledged to look into the council’s recommendations, which include enhanced regulation of all telehealth providers and a voluntary accreditation mechanism for data security and privacy protection.
