Press Releases

SFH on healthcare financing

Following is a transcript (English portion) of the remarks by the Secretary for Food and Health, Dr York Chow, at a stand-up media session at the Legislative Council Building today (October 16):

Reporter: Are you confident that you are able to attract half a million people to take part in your healthcare financing scheme?

Secretary for Food and Health: The half a million people is actually the basic calculation on how we can have a good regulation on the insurance policy and its products. Currently, 2.7 million people are being insured by medical insurance, either by their employer or by themselves. We can foresee that the market is actually much bigger than half a million. If we have an insurance policy that is regulated, well protected and attractive because of the various incentives we are going to build in, I am sure the public will find it much more attractive.

Reporter: (about the viability of healthcare financing scheme)

Secretary for Food and Health: Our aim is not just half a million, it is actually much more. If you look at the current insured population of 2.7 million, that is actually not difficult to achieve.

Reporter: (about setting up a new regulator)

Secretary for Food and Health: We need to discuss a bit more on the structure and system before we can tell the public. But it is important that we need to have a regulatory system to ensure that the products will protect all those that are insured. I will make sure that it is sustainable, and people who are being insured will be able to be protected. Even if they face catastrophic illness this year, they still have the continuation of the policy and protection. All these are essential principles that I have mentioned earlier.

(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)


Ends/Friday, October 16, 2009
Issued at HKT 19:49

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