Editorial | Price of Hong Kong’s health has to be right for truly sick in subsidy shake-up
Faced with an ageing society and expensive medical advances, Hong Kong’s public healthcare system has revamped its fees
Hong Kong prides itself on its public healthcare system, not least because it is accessible and generally affordable – thanks to a 97 per cent government subsidy.
To keep it that way, amid an ageing society and expensive medical advances, the government must review the structure of fees from time to time.
It is to be expected that such an overhaul will attract intense scrutiny from stakeholders to ensure fairness and value for the massive public investment.
The revamp announced yesterday by Secretary for Health Lo Chung-mau gives them plenty to focus on. Lo said that under the new model, the subsidy would fall from 97 per cent to 90 per cent in five years.
There will be debate about reform of the fees for 24-hour walk-in services at accident and emergency departments.
Patients currently classified as urgent, semi-urgent or non-urgent – which excludes emergencies and the critically ill – will pay HK$400 (US$50) for treatment, more than double the current HK$180. The proceeds are set to be used to subsidise patients with severe illnesses.
Non-urgent patients currently account for more than half of those attending A&E departments. For many they are an affordable choice, but can also be abused, for example by those seeking sick notes.