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Hong Kong’s Hospital Authority sues patient over unpaid HK$6 million bill she has racked up since November 2015

  • In a writ filed to the High Court, the authority has accused Hu Huaijiao of refusing or failing to pay her medical expenses despite repeated demands
  • Arrears are still piling up at a daily rate of HK$5,100, the standard price for non-local residents receiving inpatient services

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There is a heavy burden placed on Hong Kong’s public health care system. Photo: Sam Tsang

The operator of Hong Kong’s public hospitals has sued a patient in a bid to collect a bill of more than HK$6 million (US$769, 230) she has racked up since November 2015.

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In a writ filed to the High Court on Thursday, the Hospital Authority accused Hu Huaijiao of refusing or failing to pay her medical expenses despite repeated demands.

Lawyers for the authority said Hu, a mentally incapacitated woman, was admitted to Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Jordan after a traffic accident on November 11, 2015 and was transferred on August 9, 2017 to Kowloon Hospital in Mong Kok, where she remains a patient.

Her outstanding bill for hospital services, maintenance fees and other related charges amounted to HK$6.17 million as of February 28.

Health chief Sophia Chan says bill reminders are sent to patients or their families. Photo: Sam Tsang
Health chief Sophia Chan says bill reminders are sent to patients or their families. Photo: Sam Tsang
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The arrears are still piling up at a daily rate of HK$5,100, the standard price for non-local residents receiving inpatient services in Hong Kong’s public hospitals.

The authority is now demanding that Hu pay up with interest.

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