Operation Status of Women’s Clinic in Department of Sexually Transmitted Infections Control Clinic

Ms He Ting Ru asked the Minister for Health (a) whether the women’s clinic in the Department of Sexually Transmitted Infections Control Clinic is still under suspension; (b) if yes, why has it not been reopened; and (c) whether the clinic will be reopened as soon as practicable to allow a women-only space for sexual health screenings and treatment.

The Department of Sexually Transmitted Infections Control (DSC) Clinic suspended its Women’s Clinic in February 2020, at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, to create isolation facilities for patients.

However, due to the attrition of female healthcare workers at the DSC Clinic, it became difficult to maintain a dedicated Women’s Clinic at DSC Clinic. Whilst the Women’s Clinic is not in operation, the full suite of the clinic’s services remains available. This includes a women-only care team comprising of female doctors and nurses. Female patients can request for the women-only care team at the point of registration.

The DSC Clinic will continue to explore the feasibility of resuming the Women’s Clinic in the future.