More patients to avoid queues at Hong Kong public hospital clinics
Funds for those with high blood pressure or diabetes to seek private care will be expanded to all 12 city districts
Overcrowded public hospitals may divert 5 per cent of work at outpatient clinics to private doctors next year after a scheme is expanded to all city districts.
The Hospital Authority said on Monday 35,000 patients with high blood pressure or diabetes, and who were eligible to join the scheme, would receive HK$3,034 each to make up to 10 visits to private doctors annually, allowing them to avoid queues at hospitals.
It would also reduce visits to hospitals by 350,000 and free valuable capacity for an ageing population demanding more medical services.
The scheme first began in 2014 with three districts, but now covers 12 districts and serves 12,156 patients whose conditions were described as stable.
It will be further expanded later this year to the districts of Tsuen Wan, Tai Po, Islands, and Central and Western.
The final two districts, Yau Tsim Mong and North, would follow next year, senior manager of transformation projects Dr Leo Chan said.