Patients will be asked to pay for more drugs and medical devices at public hospitals under plans being considered by the Hospital Authority, according to a medical sector source.
The plan has sparked concern from patients' groups, which again accused the authority of being secretive about policy changes.
The policy on 'privately purchased medical items' (PPMI), introduced in 1995, covered nine items and had remained unchanged for the past two years, the source said.
The authority's plan for 2002-03 referred to the need to revise 'the current outdated list' of privately purchased medical items by the first quarter of next year to ensure safety of patients and guide subsidy levels.
The source said the authority was considering expanding the list, which could see patients paying a few hundred to several thousand dollars on special drugs and devices.
The source said: 'The Hospital Authority today agreed to set up a mechanism - such as a committee - to oversee which items should be introduced under the PPMI.'
