Health care voucher scheme predicted to be unpopular with both patients and profession

Health care providers can start enrolling in the controversial health care voucher scheme from the end of next month, but doctors and Chinese medicine practitioners have given it a poor response.

The three-year pilot scheme, effective from January, will provide an annual private medical care subsidy of HK$250 to those aged 70 or above.

But the medical profession projects less than 20 per cent of doctors will join the programme, saying the low subsidy and extra administration imposed on clinics make it unattractive to both patients and doctors.

The elderly will be entitled to five electronic vouchers, worth HK$50 each, per year. The plan will cost an estimated HK$505 million. Health care providers with the scheme have to access an electronic system to open an account for patients and conduct the reimbursement.

A Chinese medicine practitioners' union said the programme was unattractive as most herbalists were elderly and knew nothing about electronic health care systems. The Medical Association was informed by the government that enrolment of doctors will start on September 30.

Association president Tse Hung-hing said the response of doctors had been poor.

'We support the long-term policy on health care vouchers, but the subsidy is just too little. Some doctors don't want the extra administration and they doubt how many elderly patients will use those vouchers or just stick to public clinics,' Dr Tse said.