Hospitals reform 'has led to fairer system for poor'

Public healthcare reform initiated at the beginning of the year has resulted in a significant surge in the number of medical fee waiver beneficiaries, according to Secretary for Health Lo Chung-mau. The reform increased the fee for various services, including non-urgent, semi-urgent, and urgent cases at accident and emergency wards, to HK$400.

Patients classified as critical and emergency do not have to pay any amount. Lo explained that the expansion of the waiver mechanism has made more patients with financial difficulties eligible, after passing a means test. Prior to the reform, approximately 14,000 people received fee waivers annually. However, this year alone, over 280,000 fee waivers have been approved, a dramatic increase of more than 20 times.

Lo emphasized the positive impact of the reform in safeguarding those with financial difficulties through assessment of their income and assets.

In addition to the fee waiver improvements, Lo also highlighted proposed Medical Council reforms, which would be implemented through amendments to the Medical Registration Ordinance. These reforms aim to enhance resource utilization. A four-tier penalty mechanism is being introduced, ensuring that doctors convicted of misconduct receive fair penalties.

Under the new system, doctors will no longer be automatically suspended from practicing. Instead, the penalties will be tailored to the specific deficiencies in their skills, allowing for more precise restrictions on their practice without completely suspending their licenses. This fairer penalty system aims to address concerns about inconsistent suspensions for doctors with varying skill deficiencies.

Lo stressed the importance of ensuring fairness for both the public and healthcare professionals through the revised penalty system.