Editorial | More private-sector buy-in is needed to enhance the eHealth system
Greater participation in the health record system could help boost primary care and forge closer links between the public and private sectors
Sixty per cent of access to the centralised system is sought by private practitioners. But it is very disappointing that only 1 per cent of the records uploaded are from the private sector. The huge gap must be narrowed. Private doctors will receive a subsidy of HK$6,000 (US$772) over 12 months to adopt or adapt systems to make them compatible with eHealth. They should take advantage of the scheme.
Technical issues have been one of the largest obstacles to greater use of eHealth by the private sector. The government started a programme to provide support last year. But the reluctance of patients to give consent to private practitioners for their records to be uploaded is another problem. Privacy concerns are one main reason. Every effort must be made to ensure that the eHealth system is watertight and to offer reassurance to the public so people feel more comfortable with the idea of doctors sharing their documents on the platform.
There is also a need for a cultural change. Some private doctors still regard their patients’ medical records as assets to be kept to themselves. This mindset must not persist. Keeping records in one easily accessible place clearly enhances the standard and efficiency of healthcare services, ensuring practitioners have the information needed for diagnosis and treatment. It prevents the costly duplication of prescriptions and tests – especially important in Hong Kong where so many switch between the public and private sectors.
A five-year HK$1.4 billion plan, first announced in the 2023 policy address, aims to significantly expand the eHealth system, including for cross-border services. This is a move in the right direction. It is a valuable element in boosting primary care and forging closer links between the public and private sectors.