Revised A&E service charges to prevent disputes, HA says

Urgent patients will now incur charges for accident and emergency services, as Hospital Authority Chief Executive Tony Ko Pat-sing noted the distinction between urgent and semi-urgent cases is unclear, leading to this decision aimed at preventing disputes and ensuring efficient operations.

Under the reform revealed by the Health Bureau on Tuesday, A&E services in public hospitals will categorize patients into five groups, namely critical, emergency, urgent, semi-urgent, and non-urgent.

Those in the third to fifth categories will be charged HK$400 for service usage, while those in the first and second categories will be exempt.

The reform will take effect on January 1, 2026, with increased charges for various services, including hospitalization for HK$300 per day and specialist outpatient clinics for HK$250 per visit.

Speaking on a radio program on Wednesday, Ko noted that 60 percent of cases in the A&E are currently non-urgent. To ensure that A&E services focus more effectively on their primary role of caring for critically ill patients, the reform will be in place.

He indicated that individuals facing economic difficulties can receive assistance for fee waivers, and citizens in need can apply for waivers through the “HA Go” mobile application.

Regarding the exemption of first-category critical and second-category emergency patients from charges while third-category patients are not, Ko explained that after consulting A&E staff, it was found that the distinctions between the first and second categories are clear while differentiating between third and fourth categories can be challenging. 

He stated the arrangement was made to prevent disputes and ensure smooth operations.

When asked about potential adjustments to the reform, Ko stated that the new charges will take effect next year and emphasized that the authority will continue to consider public feedback and improve educational outreach.

Meanwhile, Secretary for Health Lo Chung-mau stated on another radio program that the HK$400 charge for A&E services is reasonable and that the decision was made after considering costs and patient affordability.

When asked about increasing general outpatient services and extending operating hours, Lo stated that their focus is currently on expanding public night clinic services. 

He also hopes to engage private doctors in patient care through the Chronic Disease Co-Care Scheme.
Lawmaker Rebecca Chan Hoi-yan questioned the government for not addressing where citizens can seek medical care at night or on holidays if they don’t go to A&E. 

She highlighted Sham Shui Po, with a population of 430,000, has only one general outpatient clinic open until 10pm and no late-night services. 

Chan expressed concern that, in the end, citizens will face a greater burden, and the number of individuals waiting for A&E services will remain unchanged.

(Cheng Wong)