Cash-strapped authority almost doubles write-offs
The Hospital Authority was forced to write off $26.4 million in unpaid medical bills last financial year, mostly from non-Hong Kong residents, it was revealed yesterday.
The sum was almost double the $13.8 million that the authority, which is reeling from a budgetary deficit, had to write off in 2002. The figure is also higher than the $18 million written off the books in the financial year that ended in April 2003, according to data released at a Legislative Council meeting.
Of the $26.4 million, about $19 million is owed by non-Hong Kong residents who sought in-patient and accident and emergency care. Since April last year, those patients have been charged $570 for accident and emergency treatment and $3,300 a day if they stay in hospital.
The new secretary for health, welfare and food, York Chow Yat-ngok, in a written reply to a question from legislator Chan Yuen-han, said the authority had taken measures to reduce defaults.
Deposits of $19,800 are required of non-residents on admission to public hospitals, he wrote.
'The hospital will follow-up on the final bill with the patient concerned through telephone calls, mail reminders and a final notice. The hospital will also contact the patient's next of kin for settlement of the outstanding fees,' he said.
