The Department of Health (DH) announced today (November 25) that a record book containing personal data of 21 patients and treatment cards of two of the patients of Cheung Chau Chest Clinic under the DH was found missing when a staff member carried them from Cheung Chau Chest Clinic to Sai Ying Pun Chest Clinic on November 22 for processing.
The records bear information of the patients who underwent sputum and/or blood examination at Cheung Chau Chest Clinic from January 2018 to November 2019, including their names, Hong Kong identity card numbers and contact telephone numbers.
While ongoing efforts are being made to locate the documents concerned, the DH has been contacting the affected patients to inform them of the incident. The DH has also set up a hotline (2859 8310) for patient enquiries during office hours.
The DH has reported the incident to the Police and will make a report to the Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data.
"We extend apologies to the patients affected for the inconvenience caused. The DH is very concerned about the incident and will conduct a thorough investigation with a view to avoiding recurrence of similar incidents. We have also stepped up efforts in reminding staff members of the importance of protection of personal data and privacy," a DH spokesman said.
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