**Hong Kong Tackles Medical Council Inefficiencies, Prioritizing Reform Over Retribution** In recent times, the people of Hong Kong have been calling for reforms in the way the Medical Council handles complaints against medical professionals. The government has listened and proposed significant changes to the council's structure and operations. Instead of punishing underperforming members, they plan to replace them, reflecting a shift in focus from retribution to reform. According to Secretary for Health Lo Chung-mau, the overhaul aims to address the long-standing issue of delayed complaint handling. The Medical Council has been criticized for taking excessively long periods of time to resolve cases, with some complaints lingering for over a decade. The ombudsman called out the council for its inefficiency, highlighting 11 cases that were stuck in limbo for 15 years or more. To tackle this problem, the government plans to introduce an amendment bill to the Medical Registration Ordinance, which will be presented to the Legislative Council in the first half of the year. The proposed changes aim to give the council more autonomy in setting its own time frames for complaint handling, rather than imposing rigid deadlines. Notably, the government has decided not to punish volunteers who serve on the Medical Council. Instead, they will be replaced if they fail to meet their duties. Civil servants, on the other hand, will be held accountable under existing mechanisms for underperformance. This approach reflects a recognition that the Medical Council is made up of volunteers who dedicate their time and expertise to ensuring the quality of medical care in Hong Kong. By prioritizing reform over retribution, the government is encouraging a culture of accountability and improvement within the council. As the proposed changes move forward, it will be interesting to see how they are implemented and whether they lead to improved complaint handling and a more efficient Medical Council.