Hong Kong Hospital Authority proposes higher charges for use of public services
The recommendations must go the government for approval, but there are doubts they will get the green light as the chief executive election approaches
But the fate of the proposals, which need government approval, remains unclear with the upcoming chief executive election taking place in March.
A patients’ rights group believed the hot potato was more likely to be passed to the next government, but a lawmaker said Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying should implement the policy as soon as possible as he would not seek another term.
The proposed increases could help alleviate overcrowding at public emergency wards, which saw 2.2 million visits last year, authority chairman Professor John Leong Chi-yan said.
There was an unprecedented surge in demand for treatment last winter. Patients with non-emergency conditions complained they had to wait up to seven hours for an accident and emergency service, after which it could take up to 20 hours to be moved to a general ward.