Hong Kong launches first regional mediation platform for medical disputes

Hong Kong has launched the first regional mediation and arbitration platform dedicated to medical and healthcare services as part of the city’s efforts to resolve local and cross-border disputes and strengthen its bid to become an international legal services hub.The Healthcare Dispute Resolution Centre, a non-profit organisation set up in 2024, announced its new online platform on Friday, providing both virtual and face-to-face services for patients and medical practitioners to settle conflicts through mediation and arbitration.“Disputes, whether they are related to medical errors, patient rights or contract issues, often turn into litigation that takes time, incurs high costs, and goes toe to toe. litigation not only harms the relationship between patients and healthcare providers, but also wastes precious public resources,” centre chairman Samuel Kwok Po-yin said.