Dr Danny Lee, Senior Medical Adviser at Medical Protection, based in Hong Kong, shares exciting updates for the year ahead and reflections on a successful year.
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Wishing you a prosperous and happy Chinese New Year 恭喜發財.
May the Year of the Horse bring you vitality, success, and abundance.
As we embrace this new beginning, I have been reflecting on the achievements we’ve shared over the past year and looking forward to the opportunities and aspirations that lie ahead.
A look back at the year behind us
One of my main responsibilities is to listen to doctors in Hong Kong about what they need from Medical Protection and then to work with colleagues across the organisation to bring these to life.
The greatest example from the year passed has been the extension of membership for Hong Kong members to include work carried out in the Greater Bay Area. As an organisation owned by its members, our priority is to support their needs and enable them to focus on delivering the best care for patients. I’m delighted that we’ve been able to respond to members’ needs by offering this additional protection to Hong Kong members at no extra cost.
I also spend a lot of time talking to doctors who are not currently members of Medical Protection, including those who left us in previous years and who are keen to return. To make joining us even easier, this past year we introduced retroactive reporting benefits (RRB) to cover past medical incidents to new and returning members who have a claims-made policy with another provider. Our sole purpose is to give them a peace of mind to practise their best.
Above all else though, I am proud of Hong Kong’s medics who came together when their community needed them most. The tragic fire at Wang Fuk Court touched all of us, and I have been moved by the incredible resilience of healthcare professionals working in challenging conditions to help patients affected by the fire, including many who decided to return to practise or from retirement to help. When we face such tragedies as a society, it is important that each of us do what we can, and I was pleased that Medical Protection could make its own contribution, providing professional indemnity protection at no cost to non-practising or retired doctors in Hong Kong to enable them to help out as quickly as possible.
Looking to the year ahead
I am optimistic that the Year of the Horse will be a similarly fulfilling year and that at Medical Protection, we will be able to continue acting on your feedback to make further improvements.
We are introducing an enhanced 24/7 point of first contact system so members will be able to contact us more easily whenever they need us. This will be provided by a combination of colleagues across the organisation – including a dedicated Hong Kong team and a range of experts from around the world.
To ensure high-quality legal support is available to our members we have entered into new deals with two leading legal firms based in Hong Kong – Howse Williams and Woody Chang Law Office. They will be focused on supporting you and Medical Protection members.
Finally, I look forward to a year of further work on behalf of members to support policy changes and advocate for best practice. We have supported the latest developments in community medicine and primary care, undergraduate medical curriculum reform and reinforcement in medicolegal training and clinical internship, as well as supporting the amendment in the Dentists Registration Ordinance. The year ahead promises to be an equally busy period and we look forward to working with official policymakers to ensure policy development is informed by your interests.
As we take the step into this New Year together, I would like to remind members that we are here for you and that you can always contact us for guidance, support, and advice.
We wish you a prosperous Year of the Horse.
祝賀馬年 萬事勝意, 龍馬精神!