HKU's HK$200m bill for mainland hospital
Pioneering initiative in Shenzhen intended to promote reform of the medical culture faces crisis after two years in row over expenses
The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen hospital which opened in Futian two years ago with the aim of reforming the medical culture on the mainland is in crisis, with the Shenzhen government and the local university arguing over who should pay for the hospital's debts.
Professor Lo Chung-mau, head of surgery at both the hospital and HKU, said it had just 11 operating theatres and 500 beds, which meant the hospital was only working at about a quarter of its capacity. He said arguments over financing that began at the end of last year had stopped the hospital from growing and were threatening its survival.
"There are now about 900 mainland staff members in the hospital, about one fifth of the full requirement… we were told at the end of last year that recruitment should stop. Now there aren't enough nurses and we can't open more wards," he said.
His comments came as HKU revealed it had spent HK$200 million on clinical management and supervision at the hospital. Ming Pao reported that the university's chances of recovering the sum were in doubt as Shenzhen deputy mayor Wu Yihuan was said to have stated HKU would be repaid only when the hospital was financially viable.
Lo said the Shenzhen government and HKU had differing views about their commitments: the university expects the government to pay all expenses in the first five years of operation, while Shenzhen is willing to pay only part of the figure based on patient numbers.
The dispute left the hospital in a difficult financial position, as its primary aim was to help reform medical care which meant breaking even was not on the agenda, Lo argued.