The sudden closure of Alliance Medical Group’s clinics in Tsim Sha Tsui and Sha Tin has left many customers, who had pre-purchased vaccination packages, stranded and worried about potential fraud, prompting a swift government response.
Clients, many of whom secured infant and adult vaccination plans at a recent exhibition at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, were unable to access services without prior notice. The closures have sparked a surge of complaints, with more than 150 lodged with the Consumer Council and over 300 reports filed with police and customs authorities across multiple districts including Cheung Sha Wan, Ngau Tau Kok, Kowloon City, and Tsim Sha Tsui.
In reaction, the government has established a multi-agency task force comprising representatives from the Security Bureau, Commerce and Economic Development Bureau, Hong Kong Customs, the Hong Kong Police Force, the Department of Health (DH), and the Consumer Council. The group aims to investigate the closures, address consumer grievances, and restore public confidence in healthcare services.
The DH has expressed concern over the disruption, particularly for infant vaccination packages, and announced it will provide free immunizations under the Hong Kong Childhood Immunisation Programme (HKCIP) at all 29 Maternal and Child Health Centres. This program covers vaccines for 12 key communicable diseases for children up to five years old.
Additionally, the DH plans to report any suspected professional misconduct by registered medical practitioners linked to the closed clinics to the Medical Council of Hong Kong. The affected clinics have also been temporarily removed from the Primary Care Directory, the Vaccination Subsidy Scheme, and the Elderly Health Care Voucher Scheme to safeguard public health.
The Consumer Council has called on Alliance Medical Group to issue a clear statement regarding their operational status and future plans to resolve consumer concerns. The investigation remains ongoing.
