The Hong Kong government has announced the extension of a significant healthcare initiative, the Pilot Scheme for Supporting Patients of the Hospital Authority in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), until March 31, 2025. This extension is a welcome move for many Hong Kong residents, especially those who frequently travel to or reside in the GBA cities, as it provides them with greater convenience and access to quality healthcare services.
The Pilot Scheme, which has been in operation for some time, allows eligible patients of the Hospital Authority (HA) to receive subsidized consultation services at the University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital (HKU-SZH). Over 4,000 patients have already enrolled in the scheme, with nearly 60% of them being elderly persons aged 65 or above. The scheme has received overwhelmingly positive feedback, with more than 90% of participating patients expressing satisfaction with the services provided at the HKU-SZH.
The scope of the scheme covers a wide range of Specialist Out-patient Clinics (SOPCs) and General Out-patient Clinic (GOPCs) services. These include specialized fields such as anaesthesiology (pain clinic only), cardiothoracic surgery, clinical oncology, ear, nose, and throat, eye, gynaecology, internal medicine, neurosurgery, obstetrics, orthopaedics and traumatology (orthopaedics), paediatrics, and surgery. However, it’s important to note that the scheme does not cover episodic illnesses, inpatient or day inpatient services, or Accident and Emergency services.
For eligible patients, the consultation fee at the designated outpatient clinic of the HKU-SZH is set at RMB100 per consultation. The remaining consultation fee is subsidized by the Pilot Scheme, with a cap of RMB2,000. This subsidy is valid until the end of the extension period on March 31, 2025. This financial support is designed to make healthcare more accessible and affordable for Hong Kong residents in the GBA.
The extension of the Pilot Scheme is part of a broader strategy to enhance healthcare collaboration between Hong Kong and the Mainland. The Health Bureau (HHB) aims to identify healthcare services with pressing demand and lower risks, and to strategically procure these services from suitable GBA medical institutions for Hong Kong citizens. This move is intended to alleviate the pressure on public hospitals in Hong Kong and reduce the waiting times for patients.
The HHB will continue to monitor the progress of various GBA medical collaboration initiatives and review the effectiveness of arrangements like the Pilot Scheme. They are also committed to strengthening medical collaboration with the Mainland, contributing to the national strategy of ‘Healthy China.’
For patients who wish to continue participating in the scheme, they can make consultation appointments as usual through existing channels at the HKU-SZH. However, it is essential to complete a declaration confirming continued participation before receiving any subsidized consultation service. Patients who decide to quit the scheme and return to Hong Kong for follow-up consultations at the HA’s SOPCs or GOPCs can approach the HKU-SZH, and the hospital will arrange the necessary referrals to the appropriate out-patient clinics based on their clinical needs.
To ensure transparency and accessibility, the details of the extension of the Pilot Scheme will be uploaded to the website of the HKU-SZH for public reference. For any inquiries, citizens can contact the Hospital Authority (HA) at Tel. No.: 2300 7070 (Service Hours: 9am – 6pm, Mondays to Fridays, except public holidays) or the HKU-SZH at Tel. No.: (+86) 0755-86913101 (Service Hours: 8am – 12.30pm and 2pm – 5.30pm, Mondays to Fridays, except public holidays).
In summary, the extension of the Pilot Scheme is a significant step towards improving healthcare access and quality for Hong Kong residents in the GBA. It not only provides a convenient and affordable option for medical consultations but also contributes to the broader goal of enhancing healthcare collaboration and efficiency in the region.
