Hong Kong private hospitals could be punished over low non-Covid patient intake from public healthcare sector, source says

Hong Kong authorities could punish private hospitals with harsher licensing terms as a “last resort” if the intake of non-Covid patients from the public sector remained low amid a surge in coronavirus cases, a source has said.

The source, who is familiar with the situation, told the Post on Saturday that uncooperative private hospitals could be slapped with tougher licensing conditions if they held off admitting non-coronavirus patients from public healthcare facilities.

Chief Executive John Lee Ka-Chiu weighed in on the issue after consulting the public on his policy address on Saturday, criticising the pace of transfers from public to private hospitals for being “as slow as a turtle”.

Secretary for Health Lo Chung-mau on Friday said that despite 13 private hospitals pledging 364 beds for public hospital patients, only five facilities had reached 60 per cent of their targets and three had taken in none so far.

“Dr Lo’s blunt remarks served as a warning,” the insider said. “If the private hospitals remain uncooperative, the government could impose harsh conditions related to the ‘land grants’, even though this is considered as one of the last resorts.”

Hong Kong’s overall coronavirus tally passed the 1.5 million mark as health officials reported 8,457 new infections, including 232 imported cases, and four more deaths. The number of Covid-related fatalities reached 9,441.