Hong Kong public healthcare fees reform takes effect

Accident & Emergency departments have implemented the new arrangements.

Hong Kong’s public healthcare fees and charges reform came into effect on 1 January, the Hospital Authority (HA) announced.

The HA said its systems have switched to the new fee structure, and operations at public hospitals proceeded smoothly.

Accident & Emergency departments were amongst the first clinical units to implement the new arrangements.

Information counters have been set up at hospitals and specialist outpatient clinics, where staff provide on-site responses to public enquiries.

Meanwhile, an enhanced medical fee waiver mechanism has been introduced. Eligible patients will gradually receive their medical fee waiver certificates, which can be used at their next follow-up consultation.

The authority has also introduced an annual cap of $1,284.48 (HK$10,000) on medical service charges, excluding self-financed items.

HK$1 = $0.13