Longer patient travel times loom over merger plan

Cheng Wong

Patients might have to travel farther and longer for public medical services if the Hospital Authority merges two clusters on Hong Kong Island, a patient group has warned.

Permanent Secretary for Health Thomas Chan Chung-ching said yesterday that the authority is considering merging the Hong Kong East and West clusters due to an anticipated population decline.

Speaking on radio, Chan said that while the population of the urban area is expected to decrease in the future, that of the New Territories will see an uptick.

"Looking ahead to the next 10 to 20 years, the population in New Territories, whether in the East or West clusters, is expected to grow significantly," said Chan.

"The overall population of Hong Kong Island will likely be smaller than that of either New Territories East or West clusters."

The population of Hong Kong Island is said to be around 1,188,500 - nearly 16 percent of the city's population - while around 3.5 million people live in the New Territories.

Chan said it is necessary for authorities to review public hospitals' expansion and redevelopment plans to utilize resources in more cost-effective ways.

Merging clusters is just one of the options being explored.

Authorities will take into account each cluster's service capacity and use public funds to build cost-effective hospital beds.

While nothing has been finalized, further details will be provided upon the completion of the 10-year hospital development plan, which has been under way since 2016 and will conclude in 2026, Chan said.

Hong Kong Patients' Voices chairman Alex Lam Chi-yau, speaking to The Standard, outlined the potential transport challenges for patients under the proposal. He added: "Let's say if a patient lives in Chai Wan and wants to go to Queen Mary Hospital in Pok Fu Lam. The long geographical distance and traffic challenge can make the medical visit inconvenient."

This could discourage patients from seeking medical services that are far away from their home, resulting in fewer medical choices, he said.

Lam underscored the importance of balance between population proportions and the availability of medical services.

He suggested that authorities consider transportation arrangements and provide sufficient supporting facilities if the two clusters are combined.

"While we understand the need to make the best use of resources, we must ensure that [the proposed plan] will not affect patients' medical service needs," Lam said.

The authority has seven hospital clusters, with two on Hong Kong Island, three in Kowloon and the remaining two in New Territories, ensuring that patients receive high-quality care within the same geographical area.

Lawmaker Rebecca Chan Hoi-yan said the administration needs to provide a reasonable explanation and data to justify canceling the current expansion plan for Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital by adding 500 beds.

cheng.wong@singtaonewscorp.com