Rainbow Healthcare Scheme

If you are interested in joining the above scheme, please click on the link for the information pack and complete the form to attend the ‘Gay-friendly Healthcare Webinar’, where you could learn more about gay men’s culture, healthcare concerns, and ways to increase sensitivity in consultation. You only need to fill in a short form after attending the webinar to let us know you have understood the information.

Your name and speciality will also be displayed on AIDS Concern website in the list of doctors who have joined our ‘Gay-friendly Healthcare Workshop’ in the highlights. However, none of the promotional materials related to this scheme will display your name or service information. Please note that AIDS Concern will not make any representation to the qualifications or competence of the doctors listed or provide any medical advice in any materials related in this scheme.

There are various places and medical schools overseas which promote LGBT-friendly medical policies or guidelines, and many of which are established by NGOs. Please see below for examples:

1. Department of Health, Taipei City Government – LGBT-friendly Medical Handbook (LGBT) https://health.gov.taipei/Portals/0/%E6%96%87%E5%AE%A3%E5%87%BA%E7%89%88%E5%93%81/%E5%90%8C%E5%BF%97%E5%8F%8B%E5%96%84%E9%86%AB%E7%99%82%E6%89%8B%E5%86%8A%E7%AC%AC%E4%BA%8C%E7%89%88.pdf
2. Human Rights Campaign – Healthcare Equality Index https://www.hrc.org/hei
3. American Medical Association – Creating an LGBTQ-friendly Practice

https://www.ama-assn.org/delivering-care/creating-lgbtq-friendly-practice

4. Gayand Lesbian Health Victoria – LGBTI Inclusive Practice https://www.glhv.org.au/lgbti-inclusive-practice

There are 2 aspects to the Scheme – the medical field and the gay community. We regularly organize LGBT-friendly healthcare training workshops, to share with medical professionals and students knowledge on healthcare concerns of the gay community, gender diversity and sexual orientation. This would improve their understanding and sensitivity towards sexual minorities, and make the medical field more LGBT-friendly. In terms of the community aspect, we will promote the Scheme within the gay community, to let more people know that more medical professionals have received training on “LGBT-friendliness”. This would eliminate their fear towards disclosing their sexual orientation, as well as obstacles in seeking medical consultation. This would also increase their confidence in medical services.

“A male patient once came to my clinic for medical consultation with a sore throat, who had taken antibiotics under another doctor’s prescription but was getting no better. After having a detailed inquiry with him, I found that he had had oral sex with men before. Having a sore throat was actually the symptom of being infected with gonorrhea, but not catching a cold or a flu. Therefore, even if the symptoms may be ordinary, a careful and attentive inquiry is still required to help the patient solve his/her physical distress.” —Dr. Fong Yeung (Family Medicine Specialist)

“As long as the information related to the patient’s sexuality is clinically relevant, I would ask the patient about their sexual orientation carefully. It has basically become part of my consultation practice. For example, if a patient has shown some skin rashes, or any signs of sexually-transmitted infections on his body, I would ask the patient about his/her sexual orientation and sexual practices. If he is a 10 (versatile), and has engaged in anal sex with another man before, I would take a swab from both his urethra and anus for a comprehensive physical examination.

In fact, as long as the patients understand the relevance between my inquiry into his sexuality and his health condition, they don’t really mind disclosing their sexual orientation. If a doctor can ask the patient about his/her sexual orientation and related issues sincerely, a more accurate diagnosis can be made.” —Dr. Wong Chun Fung (General Practitioner)

There is a saying that goes “doctoring is parenting”. LGBT patients need you to treat them equally, and they need your sensitivity too!

If you are a local registered doctor, and would like to participate in the Dr. Rainbow Scheme, please read the above training details, and fill in this application form. We will then add your name to the training attendance list of our Scheme. And when we hold Dr. Rainbow Scheme workshops in the future, we will contact you and invite you to attend.