It is one of a dozen ideas intended to cut the Hospital Authority's deficit
The government will discuss plans for a health savings scheme with lawmakers in June, with the Hospital Authority facing a deficit of $600 million.
In a green paper released in December 2000, the government proposed that all workers aged 40 to 60 contribute 1 or 2 per cent of their monthly income to a Health Protection Account scheme.
Studies costing $2 million had looked into the feasibility and implications of the scheme.
Deputy Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food Thomas Yiu Kei-chung told the Legislative Council health services panel meeting yesterday: 'We have jointly examined the issue with universities and by June we will be able to come to this panel to discuss initial findings.'
The medical savings scheme is one of 12 measures that the Hospital Authority is considering to help solve its deficit problem.
'On the question of health-care financing, on many occasions people have told me that we must face this issue. We must come up with proposals,' said the authority director for professional services, Ko Wing-man.