A new regulatory regime targeting clinics run by corporations, with the goal of ensuring that someone is clearly responsible for managing operations and maintaining proper oversight, took effect on Monday.

The Department of Health is now accepting licence applications under the new system.

To qualify, clinics must meet specific conditions, such as following practical guidelines and standards, limiting services to low-risk procedures, and reporting any medical incidents to authorities. Licence holders are responsible for ensuring their clinics comply with all requirements.

Dr Darwin Mak, head of the Office for the Regulation of Private Healthcare Facilities, said the system is being introduced because the industry has evolved. He explained that most doctors in the past ran their own clinics and were solely responsible for safety and service standards.

And if these standards were not met, the Medical Council would take action.

However, he pointed out that many clinics are now run by medical groups, which up until now were not subject to direct statutory control.

"We've found that some medical groups are owned by individuals who are not medical practitioners and lack adequate medical knowledge. In these institutions, doctors often only provide consultations and lack the authority to oversee day-to-day operations. The main purpose of the ordinance is to regulate clinics run by large corporate groups and better protect patient safety.”

Dr Mak said that there are about 5,000 clinics in Hong Kong, roughly 3,500 of which qualify as "small practice clinics", which were exempt from licensing.

To qualify for an exemption, a clinic must be operated by a single registered medical practitioner or dentist or by a partnership of no more than five registered medical practitioners or dentists.