Hong Kong can save HK$90,000 per patient with better end-of-life care: think tank
Our Hong Kong Foundation says city can adopt model expanding care to dying patients outside hospitals

Hong Kong can save more than HK$90,000 (US$11,470) per patient in medical expenses if the city provides better measures to allow more residents to receive support and die at home or in care facilities, a local think tank has said, calling on the government to develop a plan framework for people in their last days.
Our Hong Kong Foundation on Thursday released a research report on end-of-life care and proposed five key recommendations in stepping up support to allow dying patients to spend their days outside hospital.
“If we have a comprehensive end-of-life care system, it could help reduce the usage of hospital services,” foundation vice-president Ryan Ip Man-ki said.
If the city adopted the model allowing dying patients to be cared for outside hospital, the healthcare system could save HK$91,460 per individual on their medical expenses, the foundation said, citing data from an ongoing Hong Kong Jockey Club programme supporting end-of-life care in the community.
The Jockey Club programme was found to help reduce hospitalisation by 11.91 days, accident and emergency admissions by 0.95 times, and intensive care unit stays by 0.29 days.
Hong Kong is working towards giving dying patients more choice in their medical care. Last year, the legislature passed amendments under which cases of residents who died in residential care homes for the elderly and met other criteria were no longer required to be reported to the coroner’s court.
Legislation was also passed in 2024 to legally empower patients to state their medical care wishes on their last days in advance directives.