Cost of delivery will have to rise, parents warned
Parents will eventually pay more for deliveries if insurance premiums for obstetricians keep increasing, doctors said.
Frontline Doctors' Association chairman Yau Fong-chi said young doctors undergoing specialist training at public hospitals faced financial hardship when they started private practice.
The association comprises about 1,000 doctors contracted to the Hospital Authority, most of them receiving six-year specialist training. Some will switch to private practice.
Dr Yau said the cost of setting up in private practice was $300,000 to $400,000 to start a private clinic for general practice, including rent and staff. 'For obstetrics and gynaecology, the set-up cost will be much higher.'
'The cheapest ultrasound scanner costs about $300,000 and the best model may cost more than $1 million,' he said. 'The insurance premium will be an extra cost.'
Dr Yau said he welcomed the move by medical leaders to press the government to help the profession as it struggled with higher premiums.
'We think that the extra cost of the premium will eventually be adjusted by market forces and the patients will have to pay more for private obstetric services.'
