Page 5 - OHKF manpower executive summary B5 leaflet-7.4.2019'EN NEW7

iii. As of now, doctors who wish to obtain full registration to practice in Hong Kong must opt for the ‘exam pathway’ to registration. While a ‘non-exam
pathway’ exists for foreign-trained doctors who wish to obtain limited registration to practice at limited venues for a limited duration, this pathway
limited
does not lead to full registration. Both ‘exam’ and ‘non-exam’ pathways have room for introducing greater flexibility to attract foreign-trained talent
and reference could be made to international examples.

a. “Exam pathway”: foreign-trained individuals who wish to be considered for full registration (currently making up 7.5% of our fully registered doctor
workforce) to practice in Hong Kong must pass the 3-part MCHK Licensing Examination.

(i) This evidently is no easy way out where in 2017, the pass rate for part 1 (written exam) was an average of just 26.5% across two sittings and 42% for part 3
practical clinical exam. More encouraging pass rates were observed in other jurisdictions such as the US (where approximately 25% of practicing
doctors are foreign-trained) for both written (>70% in 2017) and practical (>80% in 2017) exams. The comparatively less detailed and accessible
examination syllabus, resources and reference material for examination preparation in Hong Kong, compared with other international examples,
potentially deter applicants from succeeding in their application. Therefore, we recommend the availability of a comprehensive examination syllabus
and revision material for the MCHK Licensing Examination to be reviewed in order to ensure fairness and facilitate examination preparation.

(ii) Internship experience is a listed MCHK Licensing Examination prerequisite - a prerequisite not observed for ‘exam pathways’ in other jurisdictions
including the UK and US, and serves as a potential barrier for individuals who graduate from medical courses that do not o er relevant experience. To
maximise the number of individuals eligible to sit the local examination and stand a chance at obtaining full registration to practice in Hong Kong,
consideration should be given to removing internship experience as a MCHK Licensing Examination prerequisite.
(iii) English proficiency is examined in a standalone test in Hong Kong. While the pass rate is relatively promising (94.5% in 2017), applicants could not, like
in the UK (where approximately 29% of practicing doctors are foreign-trained), opt to demonstrate their English proficiency via other means such as
satisfactory International English Language Testing System (IELTS) results. There is a need to consider allowing the use of similar non-examination
means to demonstrate English proficiency in Hong Kong.

(iv) In addition to passing the MCHK Licensing Examination, individuals looking to obtain full registration in Hong Kong must also complete a period of
assessment (internship) at approved local hospitals that cannot be substituted with equivalent overseas experience, like in other jurisdictions such as
the UK. To attract more foreign-trained doctors to serve at the public sector, those who pass the MCHK Licensing Examination should be given
the option to substitute the post-exam internship with equivalent overseas experience subject to set conditions (for example, requiring the
individual to provide service in the public sector for a set number of years). Reference should be made to requirements for obtaining full
registration in the UK.