Press Releases

Statutory control of physiotherapy comes into effect

The following is issued on behalf of the Physiotherapists Board :

Those who practise physiotherapy will be required by law to be registered, a spokesman for the Secretariat of the Physiotherapists Board said today (Friday).

The provisions in the Supplementary Medical Professions Ordinance and the Physiotherapists (Registration and Disciplinary Procedure) Regulation in relation to statutory control over the practice of physiotherapy will come into effect on 1 July, 1999. By then, it will be a criminal offence for a person to practise physiotherapy without being registered.

The spokesman said : "Registered physiotherapists are obliged to display their certificates of registration in a conspicuous position in their practising premises.

"Moreover, they should always comply with the provisions in the Code of Practice for physiotherapists, and are advised to study the code carefully and to acquaint themselves thoroughly with its contents.

"This is to avoid the danger of inadvertently transgressing accepted codes of professional ethics, which might lead to disciplinary action by the Physiotherapists Board."

Under the Physiotherapists (Registration and Disciplinary Procedure) Regulation, companies involved in providing physiotherapy service are required to submit to the Secretary of Physiotherapists Board the particulars of its directors, managers and those employees who are practising the profession of physiotherapists. Copies of the prescribed form for this purpose can be obtained from :

The Secretariat of the Physiotherapists Board
2/F 182 Queen's Road East
Shun Feng International Centre
Wan Chai
Hong Kong

Enquiries can be made on 2527 8369 or 2527 8360 during office hours. They can also dial the 24-hour enquiry hotline, 2574 4333.

Friday, May 28, 1999

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