Hospital Authority Electronic Medical Certificate

Maternity/Sick Leave Certificate & Maternity Leave Certificate

Starting from 24 April 2026, maternity/sick leave certificates and maternity leave certificates issued by the Hospital Authority (HA) have adopted a digital signature with an electronic version. This follows the digitalisation of medical certificates in March 2023.

Same as the manually signed traditional certificate, the digital signature on the electronic medical certificate and maternity/sick leave certificate issued by a doctor, and the maternity leave certificate issued by a midwife, holds the same legal effect. The digitally signed certificates include patient’s name and the information relevant to the consultation, recommended sick leave and proof of pregnancy etc.

All electronic certificates, including medical certificates, maternity/sick leave certificates, maternity leave certificates, and attendance certificates, display an encrypted QR code that allows verification of the electronic certificate. They are automatically stored in the “Records” feature of the HA’s mobile application HA Go. The electronic certificates could be used for sick leave application or proof of consultation or pregnancy. Patients can print out the certificates where necessary. For those patients issued with an attendance certificate, the electronic version will also be stored in HA Go.

The digitisation of medical certificate issued by the HA makes an important milestone in the development of smart hospital. In addition to streamlining the process of telehealth services and enhancing patient satisfaction, the digitalisation of certificates also reduces the risk of losing the paper certificates, facilitates patient access, and improves the overall patient experience. While printed copies of electronic certificates will still be available for patients at this stage, the HA encourages patients to opt for electronic certificates in the future.