Hong Kong patients seek cheaper, faster healthcare in China

Rising costs and long waits drive Hongkongers to Mainland China.

As healthcare costs rise and public hospitals in Hong Kong become increasingly overcrowded, more patients are opting to seek medical care in Mainland China, where treatments are not only cheaper but also more readily available. 

This shift, which has been particularly pronounced since the reopening of borders post-COVID-19, is being driven by patients looking for affordable and timely medical services.

"All around the world, patients essentially are looking for three things: high quality, low cost, and higher access. Hong Kong patients are no different," said Dr. Milind Sabnis, Head of Advisory, Healthcare, Asia-Pacific at Frost & Sullivan. 

While Hong Kong offers high-quality healthcare, the private sector is prohibitively expensive for many, and the public sector suffers from long waiting times. This has led to a growing number of patients seeking care across the border, particularly in Mainland China.

Sabnis pointed out that post-pandemic, not only low-income patients but also middle-income individuals have begun to make this shift due to the more affordable and quicker services available in China. "Cancer treatment, for example, could cost less than one-fifth of what it is charged in Hong Kong, and the waiting times are much, much less," Sabnis added.

The quality of medical care in Mainland China is improving, particularly in major cities like Shanghai, where primary care services are now comparable to those in Hong Kong. However, hospitals in Hong Kong still maintain higher standards than their counterparts in Mainland China, though Chinese hospitals are catching up and could reach similar levels within a few years.

"There is a need for strengthening primary care, and the government is starting to do that. It’s just that it will take some time," he said. He suggested that addressing the issue of non-emergency cases flooding hospital emergency rooms—where approximately 60% of visits are for non-urgent conditions—could help ease the burden on hospitals.

Technology and collaboration between Hong Kong and Mainland China healthcare facilities could also ease pressure on local hospitals, allowing primary care to be managed across the border while complex surgeries and follow-ups could take place in Hong Kong.