It is not wise for Hongkongers to expect the same level of medical treatment on the mainland as they do in Hong Kong, Medical Association president Choi Kin warned yesterday.
Commenting on the case of the 17-year-old local boy who was reduced to a vegetative state following treatment in a Shenzhen hospital last week, Dr Choi urged Hongkongers to be fully aware of the risks and to be aware when visiting doctors on the mainland.
'The medical systems are very different in Hong Kong and the mainland,' Dr Choi said.
He said there were no supervisory institutions on the mainland, such as the Medical Council in Hong Kong which oversees hospitals.
In addition, patients on the mainland were not well covered by insurance in the case of medical incidents caused by doctors.
'This may be due to cultural differences, or because mainland hospitals focus more on financial incentives than in Hong Kong. It is an expensive wish if you want to receive the same level of treatment across the border,' he said.
First aid