Editorial | Cheaper drugs, revamped fees are healthy steps for Hong Kong
Keeping government costs down with new patient fees and negotiations for cheaper drugs helps ensure healthcare stays affordable for all
It is good, therefore, to learn the government is going on the front foot in negotiations with pharmaceutical companies to get the best deals for many of the drugs that public patients need and the best value for the massive public investment in healthcare.
This is thanks in large part to a greater emphasis on a thorough procurement process. The Hospital Authority’s chief pharmacist, William Chui Chun-ming, says when hospital drugs are reasonably priced, the authority can use the money saved to buy more new drugs or extend the range in stock.
So far, he says, 70 per cent of drug makers, mostly from foreign countries, are willing to give discounts of an average of 20 per cent. The authority’s negotiators used as a reference drug prices offered under the mainland’s medical insurance system, which are generally lower due to the bargaining power of bulk procurement for a huge population. Beijing said last year that this had saved patients more than 880 billion yuan (US$123 billion).
The potential for cost-effective optimisation of access to the latest pharmaceutical drugs will be enhanced by Hong Kong’s aspiration to become an international medical and innovation hub, including a recognised clinical drug-trial centre. Chui said the authority would also monitor drugs in phase three clinical trials and approach developers for access to data with a view to adoption in public hospitals soon.