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Following is a question by the Dr Hon Leung Ka-lau and a written reply by the Secretary for Food and Health, Dr Ko Wing-man, in the Legislative Council today (November 14):
Question:
The Government of the last term advocated the development of the "medical services industry" and recommended the implementation of a voluntary "Health Protection Scheme" (HPS) to enable more members of the public to access private healthcare, thereby relieving the pressure on the public healthcare system. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(a) whether it knows the total number of hospital beds, bed occupancy rate, number of discharges and deaths, as well as number of patient days in private hospitals in each of the past 10 years, setting out the information according to the table attached; and
(b) whether the incumbent Government has modified the policies on the medical services industry and the voluntary HPS; if so, of the details; if not, the latest timetable for taking forward the two policies?
Reply:
President,
The healthcare system in Hong Kong comprises both the public and private healthcare sectors which are complementary to each other. The public healthcare system is the cornerstone of local healthcare system and safety net to all Hong Kong citizens, providing them with equitable, quality and less expensive healthcare services. The private healthcare sector mainly complements the public healthcare services by providing a choice for those who are able and can afford private healthcare services. We will continue with the twin-track healthcare system, which has worked well for us, and facilitate the balanced and sustainable development of the public and private healthcare sectors.
My reply to the various parts of the question is as follows:
(a) The table in Annex shows the utilisation of hospital beds in private hospitals.
(b) As regards facilitating the development of private hospitals, the Government has reserved four sites at Wong Chuk Hang, Tseung Kwan O, Tai Po and Lantau for this purpose. We first carried out a tender exercise in April this year for the two sites at Wong Chuk Hang and Tai Po. This tender exercise was closed at the end of July this year and assessment of the tenders is currently underway. In light of the outcome and experience from this tender exercise, we will formulate our future direction and arrangements for facilitating the development of private hospitals having regard to the needs of the community.
As for the Health Protection Scheme (HPS), we are now formulating detailed proposals for it. The HPS aims to complement the public healthcare system by providing more choices with better protection to those who are able and willing to pay for private health insurance and use private healthcare services. This would in turn better enable the public healthcare system to focus on serving its target areas, thereby enhancing the long-term sustainability of our healthcare system.
A Working Group and a Consultative Group on the HPS have been set up under the Health and Medical Development Advisory Committee (HMDAC). The Working Group will make recommendations on matters concerning the implementation of the HPS, including supervisory and institutional frameworks, key components of the HPS standard plans, and rules and mechanism in support of the operation of the HPS. The Working Group will be supported by the Consultative Group, which will collect views and suggestions from the wider community and pass them to the Working Group for reference and consideration. The Working Group is expected to complete its various studies and submit detailed proposals on the HPS to the HMDAC by 2013.
Ends/Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Issued at HKT 12:15
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