York Chow hints at 7th option on health cash
A seventh option on the health care financing model may be proposed, after a three-month consultation found the community was as divided as ever on how it should share the cost of a ballooning health budget.
The new option might be a mishmash of the six options presented in the consultation that ended yesterday, described by Secretary for Food and Health York Chow Yat-ngok as a 'successful' discussion of community values.
The document, 'Your Health, Your Life' released on March 13, outlines alternative funding models, social health insurance, out-of-pocket payments, medical savings accounts, voluntary private health insurance, mandatory private health insurance and a personal health care reserve.
'Many people support and also object to any of the six options. We cannot see any mainstream option emerging,' he said.
Dr Chow said the government would have to look at another proposal. 'If we should have a seventh option, it will not be something that is completely new. It may be an amalgamation or a rejuggling of the six existing options. How exactly we tweak the elements ... is something we have to arrive at after the analysis process,' he said.
Not one of the six options received more than 50 per cent of the submissions, Dr Chow said.
The government would continue to conduct twice-weekly opinion surveys and focus groups in the next few months.
'By the middle of next year, the second stage of consultation will begin on more details of the financing option.'
He said the government remained committed to arriving at a specific decision on health financing as well as achieving the early stage of preparation work by the end of its term in 2012.
Dr Chow said the purpose of the first stage of the exercise was to explore 'society values' on health financing and encourage public discussion on 'whether they should save up for tomorrow, whether they should share the risk with others, whether they are willing to contribute a certain percentage of their income for their health'.
'I believe we have a relatively favourable answer that most people are caring. They are also concerned about their health when they get old, they are concerned about their family but they are also concerned about how much they can contribute.'
He said there was more opposition to a tax increase to finance health services. 'Many people would like to have their own medical accounts,' he said. People would also like to have a choice, rather than a mandatory type of health model.
There was also wide public agreement that the Hospital Authority should be supported financially by the government but should be asked to be more transparent in the use of taxpayers' money, he said.
People also wanted an expansion of the private market on condition that its operations were transparent and regulated.
Acting Chief Executive Henry Tang Ying-yen said the consultation showed there was clear consensus on reforming the health care system and improving health care services.
He said the government would strike the right balance between the expectations and concerns expressed by different sectors of the community.
