Hong Kong’s first Chinese medicine hospital to offer inpatient services from December

The first Chinese medicine hospital in Hong Kong is set to offer inpatient services starting December 11, according to authorities. This new facility, located in Tseung Kwan O, will provide 24-hour care for patients. The hospital currently offers outpatient and day-patient services only. A total of 93 beds will be available, including 60 subsidized beds for eligible Hong Kong residents and 33 non-subsidized ones.

Additionally, there will be 20 beds under the Clinical Trial and Research Centre, along with two high-dependency beds for patients needing closer observation and nursing care. The hospital's total bed count is projected to reach 400 by the end of 2030. Operated under a public-private partnership model, the hospital is run by a company established by Hong Kong Baptist University, which was chosen as the project contractor in 2021 after a government tender process.

Inpatient services will cost HK$980 per day under the subsidized scheme, more than three times the current day charge for public hospital beds, which is HK$300. Non-subsidized bed fees range from HK$810 to HK$3,100 per day, depending on the room type, excluding medical attendance or consultations, which start at HK$560 per visit.

The hospital will also expand existing outpatient services and introduce 10 new special disease programs in September and November, addressing conditions like eczema, Parkinson's disease, and functional gastrointestinal disorders. Officials anticipate that annual outpatient attendance will rise from 140,000 in the first year to over 260,000 in the second year.