Eligible Hong Kong cancer survivors able to seek follow-up consultations from private practitioners at subsidised rates from 2024
- Lymphoma survivors to receive up to 10 subsidised visits per year at private clinics of their choice
- More than 650 private doctors have registered with the Hospital Authority under the programme, which already covers stable cases of diabetes
The initiative, expected to cover lymphoma patients first, is among more than a dozen public-private partnership schemes rolled out by the Hospital Authority in recent years to alleviate the healthcare burden against the backdrop of a rapidly ageing population and early occurrence of chronic illnesses.
Launched in 2014, the programme allows patients in stable condition to receive up to 10 subsidised visits per year at private clinics of their choice for chronic and episodic illnesses after being referred by public doctors.
Dr Frank Chan, the authority’s chief manager of service transformation, said that in the long run it was hoped patients could monitor and follow up on their condition with their family doctors.
“Whenever they feel unwell, they will think of the family doctor instead of visiting the accident and emergency unit or specialist clinics. That’s what we hope to change,” he said.
Lymphoma survivors were chosen to be the first batch of oncology patients covered by scheme because of their relatively stable condition and simpler follow-up treatments.
Chan said they would have discussions with experts and he expected the programme to be rolled out in the first half of next year.