Replies to LegCo questions
LCQ10: Health Protection Scheme
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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LCQ10 Annex (Question)
LCQ10 Annex (Reply)