Letters | Hong Kong’s working class deserve world-class medical care

Readers discuss proposed reforms to Hong Kong’s outpatient services, the city’s aspirations to be an education hub, Trump’s MAGA movement and North Korea’s continuing missile tests

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Patients visit the general outpatient clinic in Hong Kong’s Sai Wan Ho district in September last year. Photo: Yik Yeung-man

Published: 11:30am, 11 Nov 2024

I am writing to express my concerns about the government’s move to restrict access to government outpatient clinics for certain classes of people (“Hong Kong’s public outpatient clinics to focus on serving city’s vulnerable: health chief”, November 3). Such a move will only reflect a government falling short in its responsibility to meet the healthcare needs of all Hong Kong people.

Every Hongkonger should have the right to choose from the variety of medical services that are available to them. In Hong Kong, there is a significant portion of the population – including the underprivileged and working class – that is struggling to afford the high costs associated with private clinics and hospitals. These individuals contribute to society by going to work every day and making annual income tax payments.

Unfortunately, they are already excluded from accessing affordable public housing. Those who are eligible for public rental housing have to wait for an average of 5½ years for a unit, based on the queue in the second quarter of this year. Those who are ineligible must turn to the private sector, given the insufficient supply of subsidised sale flats.

Healthcare services must not go the same way. Instead of restricting access to the city’s medical services, the government should focus on expanding them, building more hospitals, hiring and training more medical staff, and enhancing quality control and service standards. By doing so, the government can ensure that high-quality healthcare services are accessible to all of its residents, especially underprivileged and working-class individuals who are in need of affordable medical care.

By providing access to government outpatient clinics at a slightly higher rate than the current fee charged, the government can ensure that these individuals receive the medical care they deserve without facing exorbitant costs.

I urge the government to reconsider its policies and take proactive steps towards making healthcare services more accessible and inclusive for all citizens, especially the working class who form the backbone of our society. We must ensure that everyone, regardless of their economic status, has the right to quality medical care.