Patients call on govt to reevaluate impact of increased public healthcare fees

As the new public healthcare fees reform is set to take effect on Thursday (Jan 1), patient groups are pressing the government to reassess the implications of these increases, particularly for middle-income residents seeking medical treatment in the private sector.

The reform will see emergency service fees more than double, rising to HK$400. However, patients classified under Category I (critical) and Category II (emergency) will be exempt from this payment. Other adjustments include significant changes to fees for general outpatient services, specialist consultations, prescription medications, and inpatient care.

Currently, 13 private hospitals in Hong Kong offer 24-hour outpatient and/or A&E services, with fees ranging from HK$270 to HK$2,400 based on the time and severity of the patient's condition.

Inquiries made by Sing Tao Daily, the sister publication of The Standard, to these hospitals indicated that 10 of them -- including Hong Kong Adventist Hospital, Union Hospital, and St. Teresa's Hospital -- have no immediate plans to increase their service charges.

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Tim Pang Hung-cheong, a representative from the Society for Community Organization, emphasized the necessity to monitor how these new fees will impact middle-income citizens. He urged the government to conduct an analysis post-reform to refine future healthcare policies based on the number of individuals seeking care at private facilities and their visit timings. 

The changes will also significantly affect specialist outpatient fees, which are set to rise from HK$135 for the first visit and HK$80 for subsequent visits to HK$250 for each consultation. 

One affected by the changes is Lau -- a 67-year-old Parkinson's disease patient. Facing financial strain due to her husband losing his job and their reliance on a takeaway shop income, Lau has made over 25 visits to specialists this year alone. 

Her annual medical expenses are anticipated to surge from HK$2,000 to HK$6,250. Additionally, her required Parkinson’s medications will cost nearly HK$1,000 annually under the new fee structure.

Despite her health needs, Lau is ineligible for a waiver of medical charges, as her assets surpass the HK$562,000 threshold.

"If I stop taking my medication, my body will stiffen, and I can’t survive." Lau hopes the government will reconsider the extent of the fee hikes for specialist services.