5,000 more hospital beds and better operating facilities by 2026, Hong Kong No 2 official says
Chief secretary urges lawmakers to quickly approve request this summer as high occupancy rates and staff shortages continue
As long waits at Hong Kong’s overstretched public hospitals persist, the city’s No 2 official assured on Sunday that 5,000 more beds, a new accident and emergency unit and better operating facilities would be added by 2026.
The health care overhaul confirmed by Chief Secretary Matthew Cheung Kin-chung would draw upon five funding proposals to upgrade four hospitals and build a new hospital with A&E services in Kai Tak.
Writing about the plan on his blog, Cheung urged lawmakers to quickly approve the request, which is to be submitted by July.
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The projects form part of the government’s plan, announced two years ago, to spend HK$200 billion (US$25.4 billion) to build new facilities including 5,000 hospital beds – 2,400 alone at Kai Tak – and 94 operating theatres by 2026.
These projects relate to people’s livelihood
The four enhancement projects the chief secretary noted were Queen Mary and Grantham hospitals on Hong Kong Island, as well as Kwong Wah and Our Lady of Maryknoll hospitals in Kowloon.