Private hospitals to set out cost of treatment in advance under new law

Private hospitals and doctors would have to tell patients the likely cost of their treatment in advance under a law the government plans to introduce this year.

This would help patients to better estimate their medical bills and make comparisons between providers, and reduce disputes.

It would also pave the way for government reform of medical insurance, which aims to encourage more Hongkongers to use private health care, easing the burden on overloaded public hospitals.

The costing proposal is expected to be introduced by the Food and Health Bureau in the second half of this year, the South China Morning Post can reveal.

"There are still more details to be formulated under the new bill," a source familiar with the issue said.

The plan comes a year after the Audit Commission criticised most private hospitals for not giving patients enough price information before treatment. It also said the government was lax in regulating them.

Unlike public hospitals which have standardised pricing, private sector bills are decided by two parties - the hospital and the doctor. A bill can vary significantly according to the doctor's level of experience, the equipment used and other factors.