Mainland mothers are ruining our 'world city' hospitals for local mums
Hong Kong, being 'Asia's world city' has world-class institutions, including its education and medical systems.
To ensure that the city's maternity-related services at public hospitals remain top-notch, the government in February tightened the restrictions on pregnant mainland women visiting Hong Kong for the sole purpose of giving birth.
Unfortunately for Hong Kong residents, the 'birth tour agencies' in the mainland quickly found ways around the government's restrictions. And they expanded the scope of their services to include maternity care at private hospitals for their mainland customers.
As a Canadian citizen working in Hong Kong - with permanent residency here - I have several concerns about these mainland birth tour agencies. First, many pregnant mainlanders who use the agencies receive no pre-natal or post-natal care in Hong Kong, but they take up a majority of the beds in private hospitals. The agencies physically 'stake out' the beds at the private hospitals; the women arrive shortly before their elective caesarean procedures; and they leave shortly thereafter. This seems inherently unfair to Hong Kong residents who actually support the local private medical profession - as I do.
Second, a majority of mainlanders choose to give birth in this city only to guarantee Hong Kong permanent residency for their children. Private hospitals must cater to the demands of their patients. The result of all this will be a deterioration in the level of maternity care offered by private hospitals - in addition to the inevitable crowding.
As a parent, I can fully appreciate wanting the best for your child's future. However, as a permanent resident - who strongly supports the local medical profession by seeking all pre-natal and post-natal care in Hong Kong - I find it extremely frustrating that I am unable to obtain the private hospital medical care that I am more than willing to pay for.
If international residents of Hong Kong can no longer access private hospital care, one wonders what's next. Lack of access to international schools?
Jenny Ip, Pok Fu Lam
