ECO Amendments on Reimbursement of the Cost of Registered Proprietary Chinese Medicines

The majority of the amendments made to the Employees’ Compensation Ordinance (ECO) and the Pneumoconiosis and Mesothelioma (Compensation) Ordinance (PMCO) relating to the recognition of medical functions of registered Chinese medicine practitioners (CMPs) came into operation on 1 September 2008.  The remaining not-yet-commenced provisions on reimbursement of the cost of proprietary Chinese medicines (“pCm”) were also brought into operation on 14 January 2011, in order to tie in with the commencement of the provisions relating to the registration of pCms under the Chinese Medicine Ordinance (CMO) and the Chinese Medicines Regulation (CMR).

From 14 January 2011 onwards, the employer (under the ECO) or the Pneumoconiosis Compensation Fund Board (under the PMCO) continue to be liable to pay the cost of pCm prescribed by registered Chinese medicine practitioners.  However, the pCm should be registered, deemed to have been registered or exempted from registration under the CMO or the CMR.  In addition, if the pCm prescribed is one that is exempted from registration under the CMO, the prescription should show the name and quantity of each Chinese herbal medicine contained in the pCm.

For the major provisions of the ECO, please refer to the Concise Guide on the Employees’ Compensation Ordinance.

For the major provisions under the PMCO, please refer to the website of the Pneumoconiosis Compensation Fund Board.