Press Releases

HWFB explains on medical fees and charges

In response to press enquiries, a spokesman for Health, Welfare and Food said today (March 8) that the medical fees and charges review exercise sought to address the serious imbalance between the public and private sectors.


"This will avert possible lengthening of patients' waiting time and deterioration of service quality.


"In the fee adjustment exercise, we will take into consideration the needs of frequent users and chronic patients," the spokesman said.


Currently, the public hospital sector serves some 95 per cent of in-patients. The average cost per in-patient per day is $3,600 while the fee is $150 for the first day of admission and $100 per subsequent day.


Non-urgent patients take up 70 per cent of the attendance in the accident and emergency (A&E) service. While the average cost of A&E consultation is $830, the A&E charge is $100.


For specialist out-patient service, the average cost per attendance is $800 but the charges are $100 for first attendance and $60 for subsequent attendance with $10 for each item of prescribed drug for up to 16 weeks.


Reasonable adjustment of the fee together with repositioning would facilitate the redistribution of services between the public and private sectors. In the context of A&E, it would also avoid inappropriate use, non-urgent patients would be encouraged to see family doctors or to use non-emergency services, the spokesman added.


In the long run, the Administration undertook to work out a framework for health care financing for public consultation. The reconstituted Health and Medical Development Advisory Committee has started deliberation on various health and medical issues with a view to working out an interim report in December with strategies on the development of service models and options on health care financing.



Ends/Tuesday, March 8, 2005

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