Vaccine pass requirement at medical facilities commences

Patients and other people visiting non-emergency public medical facilities, like specialist clinics under the Hospital Authority and designated health centers, will have to use the vaccine pass from Monday (June 13).

The applicable premises also include district health centers, student health service centers, government dental clinics and methadone clinics.

Under the new rules starting today, unvaccinated patients will still be admitted - as long as they've had a negative PCR test result within the previous 48 hours. But other visitors will not be able to use a negative test result as an alternative.

People entering the medical facilities will need to produce their vaccination record for staff to check, but they won't need to scan the QR code.

Meanwhile, those entering the premises to collect rapid test kits, get tested or vaccinated are exempted from the vaccine pass arrangement.

Officials said the jab mandate won't apply to organizations providing emergency medical services, such as accident and emergency departments and general out-patient clinics under the Hospital Authority.

The move has previously raised concerns from the city’s patient welfare groups, saying the news rule will effectively prevent some chronically-ill or disabled patients from seeking treatment, citing the difficulties for them to get PCR tests.