$40 acceptable for emergency care, say patients
Patients said yesterday they would only be willing to pay about $40 a time for visits to accident and emergency units.
The Hospital Authority is considering charging fees comparable to those of private hospitals' 24-hour clinics for use of emergency units.
Two private hospitals, the Adventist and Matilda, charge $800 and $880 respectively for an emergency consultation after midnight.
Other private hospitals charge between $150 and $500 for general outpatient treatment, depending on the time.
Tiu Kwing-yee, who sought emergency services at Prince of Wales Hospital yesterday, agreed that charges should be imposed.
'I came here today because I feel so sick after an operation to remove kidney stones,' the elderly man said.
'Even though it is so painful, I have not called an ambulance. I know that emergency services should be given only to those with urgent needs.' He said $30 to $40 per attendance would be acceptable.
'I don't want to misuse public resources but I have no job. If the charge is too high, my life will be more difficult.' Another patient, who took his seven-year-old son to the hospital yesterday, also backed the proposal.
'If I were rich enough, I could buy a whole block of the hospital, but we earn only very little.
'If we were asked to pay $30 to $40, it would be okay. $100 or $200 would be too much.'
