Lawmakers voted yesterday against plans to impose charges for using accident and emergency wards in public hospitals.
The Democrats, the DAB and the Progressive Alliance joined forces to carry a non-binding motion against the charges being considered by the Government to stop abuse of the services.
But Secretary for Health and Welfare Yeoh Eng-kiong said collecting fees would be an effective way to deter misuse.
Government figures show that up to 70 per cent of those seeking treatment have neither critical nor urgent problems. Mr Yeoh said misuse occurred even when other private and public clinics were operating.
'We don't think extending the hours or increasing the quota for out-patient consultation in government clinics would help. We believe an appropriate fee will influence patients' choices and reduce misuses and overcrowding,' he said.
The fee - which could be between $100 and $150 per visit - will be part of the health-care reform package, which will be released soon.
Dr Tang Siu-tong of the Hong Kong Progressive Alliance warned that imposing charges would end up with the rich abusing the service.
