Hospital beds failure must be addressed

Maladministration is arguably inevitable in a health care system involving multilayers of bureaucracy. But something is clearly amiss when a problem warrants repeated investigation by public spending and governance watchdogs. We trust the health authorities now realise that the chronically low usage of subsidised private hospital beds, first raised by the Audit Commission seven years ago and now re-examined by the Ombudsman, deserves more than a check-up.

Despite the long-standing requirements for private hospitals on government land to provide certain numbers of low-cost beds for patients, red tape and a lack of public awareness mean the arrangements only exist on paper. A review by the government auditor in 2012 put the problem in the spotlight, and subsequent agreements were made for public hospitals to make better use of private hospital beds during influenza seasons.

But the enhancement measures appear to be half-hearted. According to the Ombudsman, a total of 164 low-cost beds were ready for use at two private hospitals, but only 35 and 25 patients were referred respectively during the summer and winter flu outbreaks in 2017-18. Legislators and patients’ groups had already expressed dismay when the auditor found that the use of low-cost beds only ranged between 17 to 24 per cent between 2007 and 2011. The cost of other medical fees and charges was also found to be higher than permitted under the rules.

That the problem remains unresolved over the past seven years is regrettable. Not only has it exposed a wealth of issues such as slack enforcement and misuse of subsidised resources, overloaded public hospitals also do not get the relief available and patients’ best interests have not been served. The failure also does not do justice to overworked medical staff.

Former health chief Ko Wing-man rightly pledged to address the problems identified with a sense of urgency. But the direct investigation by the Ombudsman would not have been needed had the issue been fully resolved. The outcome of the probe should be seriously followed up by the health authorities.