Hong Kong has introduced the first regional platform dedicated to mediation and arbitration for medical and healthcare disputes, aiming to address conflicts more efficiently and support the city’s aspirations to become a global legal services hub.
The Healthcare Dispute Resolution Centre, a non-profit organisation established in 2024, announced the launch of its new online platform on Thursday. The service offers both virtual and in-person options for patients and medical practitioners to resolve disputes through mediation and arbitration, avoiding lengthy court procedures.
Samuel Kwok Po-yin, chairman of the centre, noted that disputes involving medical errors, patient rights, or contract issues often escalate into costly and prolonged litigation, which can damage the relationship between patients and healthcare providers and strain public resources. He emphasized that with increasing cross-border medical services, particularly within the Greater Bay Area—a regional economic collaboration linking Hong Kong, Macau, and nine cities in Guangdong—the platform will serve as a central hub for resolving medical disputes.
Kwok highlighted advantages of mediation and arbitration over traditional legal processes, citing quicker resolution times, reduced costs, confidentiality, and decisions informed by medical expertise. Currently, complaints against healthcare professionals in Hong Kong are mostly managed by the Medical Council of Hong Kong, a statutory body. Between 2020 and 2025, the council completed 263 inquiries, with over 75% resolved within five years; however, some cases extended from 10 to 15 years.
The new platform operates with the support of the eBRAM International Online Dispute Resolution Centre, a non-profit entity affiliated with the Asian Academy of International Law, the Law Society of Hong Kong, and the Hong Kong Bar Association. It also benefits from backing by the Hong Kong International Medical Mediation Centre, which maintains 30 branches worldwide, including locations in mainland China, Singapore, and the United Kingdom.
Alan Ng Wai-lun, founder of the Cancerinformation.com.hk Charity Foundation, expressed cautious optimism about the platform’s potential to expedite and impartially resolve medical disputes. Ng drew attention to the enduring complaint process patients often face, referencing a notable case involving a paediatrician, Dr Sit Sou-chi, found guilty in 2009 of professional misconduct following a medical error that left a child permanently disabled. The complaint against Dr Sit took 15 years to resolve, prompting calls to reform the Medical Council. Proposed changes include increasing the proportion of lay members on the council, reducing the complaint-handling period from 42 months to 29 months, and greater transparency around inquiry timelines.
The introduction of this dedicated healthcare dispute resolution platform reflects efforts to improve access to fair and timely resolution mechanisms for medical conflict in Hong Kong and the broader Greater Bay Area.