The findings of a University of Hong Kong study on health care for the poor ("Health of poor an urgent case", January 6) should provide Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying with some vital food for thought for his forthcoming policy address.
The study emphasised "a host of health problems" affecting poor people, especially the elderly, in our community.
Government statistics show that 73.7 per cent of people aged over 64 suffer from chronic health problems ("Over 25pc affected by chronic illness", January 8). Apart from hypertension mentioned in the HKU report, these problems include aches and pains that create mobility problems for patients, and respiratory illnesses. Diabetes and poor eyesight are other common health hazards that adversely affect their financial and social well-being.
While public hospitals and clinics provide good services at low cost, the waiting lists are long (a cataract operation still takes an average one year's queuing time), and deter the elderly poor from seeking help.
Chinese medicine, which is more expensive, is generally not included in public health care.
According to an Oxfam study, in the second quarter of 2012, some 17.6 per cent of Hong Kong people were living on the poverty line.