Li charity joins up with knee implants

About 200 patients in need of artificial knees will benefit from a subsidized scheme by the Li Ka Shing Foundation and get implants at a private hospital.

Orthopedists at Precious Blood Hospital will replace patients' knees with artificial knees made of cobalt chrome alloy, which is hard and durable and can be used for up to 20 years, according to the foundation.

Patients with a monthly household income less than HK$80,000 on average who have been waiting for total knee joint replacement surgery in public hospitals for more than three years will be eligible.

Orthopedists at the hospital will determine whether the applicants are suitable for the replacement surgery after they have submitted their applications directly to the hospital.

Successful applicants will have their knee surgery subsidized by 75 to 100 percent depending on their economic situation. Patients may replace one or both of their knee joints.

The foundation said it has budgeted HK$20 million to provide knee joint implants for around 200 patients.

Apart from subsidizing the surgery and the artificial knees, the subsidies will also cover the cost of patients' doctor appointments before the surgery, as well as room charges during their stay in the hospital, including meals and consumable charges.

Other charges covered by the scheme include a total of 12 sessions of physiotherapy as well as two doctor appointments after the surgery.

"Many elderly people have knee problems, but there are not enough orthopedic surgeons in public hospitals to cope with the demands, therefore patients will have to wait for a long period of time before receiving a replacement surgery," the foundation said.

According to the Hospital Authority, nearly 30,000 patients are on the waiting list for knee replacement, with waiting periods ranging from three to seven years.

"Because of the long waiting time, many patients have to endure physical and mental pressure due to their knee problem. Therefore, the foundation decided to subsidize the Precious Blood Hospital to shorten patients' waiting time before being able to have a replacement surgery," it added.

The foundation also said that it has been collaborating with different medical institutions and supporting various medical projects, with subsidizing knee joint replacement surgeries being just one of them.