Coronavirus: Hong Kong’s private clinics set to launch Covid-19 testing, but infection risks, potential stigma has many in sector wary
- Private medical facilities can either administer nasal swabs themselves, or have patients take samples at home then return them for testing
- Beyond infection concerns, the question of sample storage has some doctors questioning the administrative burden
A plan to begin coronavirus testing at Hong Kong’s private clinics has received a lukewarm reception from the medical sector, amid concerns about infection risks, administrative overload and potential stigmatisation.
The move, broadly welcomed by patients who would be able to consult their own doctors, is the latest in a string of measures in response to Covid-19, which has so far infected 115 people locally and caused two fatalities.
On Monday, the government extended its enhanced laboratory surveillance scheme, already in effect at 17 public hospitals and 64 government-run outpatient clinics, to all of Hong Kong’s private clinics and hospitals.
Under the initiative, private GPs and family doctors can, based on their medical assessment, collect respiratory samples from patients with symptoms of infection.
That can be accomplished either by taking a nasal swab at the clinic or having patients take their own deep throat saliva sample at home, then return it for testing at health department laboratories.