HA to regularize emergency room refund arrangement

The Hospital Authority will regularize the accident and emergency department special refund arrangement, and the refund amount will be set at HK$350 following next year’s fee adjustment, said Commissioner for Primary Healthcare Pang Fei-chau.

The authorities earlier announced to increase the medical fee to HK$400 for non-urgent A&E patients from January 1, 2026. With the HK$350 refund, patients waiting at public hospitals who choose to seek medical attention from another institution will only need to pay HK$50.

In an article published in a Chinese newspaper, Pang said the HA will regularize the refund arrangement, adding that the public healthcare charges reform announced last month complements the development of primary healthcare.

He urged citizens to make good use of the community-based primary healthcare system, allowing valuable A&E resources to be used more effectively for critical and emergency patients in greatest need.

Pang stated that the authority will compile the consultation times and locations of primary healthcare doctors to help the public understand options outside of the A&E. 

The Primary Healthcare Commission is working with the HA to redefine general outpatient services, focusing on vulnerable groups, including low-income families and elderly individuals in poverty, he said.

This year, these services will be unified under the name “Family Medicine Outpatient Services,” with an expected increase of about 50,000 consultation slots. The plan will also continue to enhance dedicated slots for prioritizing care for vulnerable communities.

Regarding evening outpatient services, Pang noted that the HA will continue to assess the situation, particularly the needs of vulnerable communities.

Currently, the HA has 23 general outpatient clinics providing evening services until 10pm. Starting in the fourth quarter of this year, the number of family medicine outpatient clinics offering services on Sundays and public holidays will increase from 14 to 15, with locations across Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, and the New Territories. 

He noted this is expected to result in an overall increase of about 5 percent in consultation slots for Sundays and public holidays.

Cheng Wong