The Code has five chapters, management and governance, physical conditions, service delivery and care process, infection control, and risk management and contingency. The current version is the 2026 edition, PHF(E) 31A, issued in July 2026.
The chapters
| Chapter | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Management and governance | The CME, staff and their qualifications |
| Physical conditions | Premises, equipment and their maintenance |
| Service delivery and care process | Patients' rights, identification, medical records, drugs, pathology and radiology, sedation, incidents, prices, complaints, telemedicine, closure |
| Infection control | Including sterilising logs |
| Risk management and contingency | Including fire drills |
The Code requires a written medical records policy, with each record holding a unique identifier, name, sex, date of birth, address, phone, drug allergies, consultation notes, investigations, treatment, and sick leave or referral records. It asks for an up-to-date fee schedule covering all chargeable items at reception and the cashier, and for sentinel and serious untoward events to be reported to the Director of Health within 24 hours.1
- Read the 2026 edition. Version 2, July 2026. Version 1 took effect in October 2025.
- Pull ten records. Check each against the Code's list of contents.
- Check the counter. The fee schedule at reception and the cashier, current and complete.
- Check the logs. Equipment, sterilising and fire drill records.
- Rehearse an incident. Who reports a sentinel event, and how within 24 hours.
- Unique identifier ______ Name, sex, date of birth ______
- Address and phone ______ Drug allergies ______
- Consultation notes ______ Investigations ______
- Treatment ______ Sick leave or referral ______
Questions
Which edition is current?
The 2026 edition, PHF(E) 31A, issued in July 2026.
How fast must a sentinel event be reported?
Within 24 hours, to the Director of Health.
Where must the fee schedule be?
At reception and the cashier, covering all chargeable items.
Sources
- 1Department of Health, 2026Code of Practice for Clinics, 2026 edition, PHF(E) 31ARead source
- 2Office for Regulation of Private Healthcare Facilities, 2026Recent updatesRead source
Written by the wai team from Office for Regulation of Private Healthcare Facilities, Department of Health, Hong Kong guidance, checked on 15 October 2026. This is guidance, not legal advice. ORPHF does not endorse wai or any software.