https://www.scmp.com/rss/523283/feed The latest news and top stories on Hospital Authority of Hong Kong, a statutory body that manages the city's public hospitals and clinics. Its main responsibility is to ensure comprehensive affordable healthcare services for residents. It also develops smart hospitals and recruits healthcare professionals. It is headquartered at 147B Argyle Street in Kowloon. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Medical innovation may not be the first prognosis that comes to mind regarding financial hub Hong Kong’s future. But last week, the city comfortably took the spotlight hosting professionals, policymakers and investors from around the world for International Healthcare Week. The Asia Summit on Global Health and the Hospital Authority Convention, held concurrently with the Hong Kong International Medical and Healthcare Fair, were important catalysts for developing the sector. The two-day summit... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3353944/hong-kong-shares-its-public-health-bona-fides-global-investors?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3353944/hong-kong-shares-its-public-health-bona-fides-global-investors?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 18 May 2026 22:45:05 +0000 Danny Mok Danny Mok Hong Kong’s Hospital Authority will begin using standard prefixes for telephone numbers to make it easier for people to recognise its calls rather than avoiding them due to scammers and advertisers. Starting next Tuesday, all phone calls made by the authority, which oversees public medical facilities, will display a unified caller ID number beginning with 18285 or 18286. Each authority unit will be assigned a seven-digit number from 1828 500 to 1828 599 or from 1828 600 to 1828 699. An authority... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3354015/hospital-body-use-18285-and-18286-phone-numbers-help-people-identify-calls?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3354015/hospital-body-use-18285-and-18286-phone-numbers-help-people-identify-calls?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 18 May 2026 16:28:47 +0000 Wynna Wong Wynna Wong Hong Kong health authorities have ordered hospitals to stop using a batch of blood pressure monitoring sets after an improperly sealed device was linked to the death of an elderly man undergoing a heart operation. The Department of Health also said on Friday that it had ordered the local supplier to halt sales of the affected batch and it was investigating the incident at Tuen Mun Hospital. The Hospital Authority noted on Thursday the 75-year-old man had a history of chronic obstructive... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3353773/health-authorities-order-halt-use-medical-devices-tied-patients-death?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3353773/health-authorities-order-halt-use-medical-devices-tied-patients-death?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 15 May 2026 15:57:43 +0000 Brian Wong Brian Wong A 29-year-old Hong Kong man died of misadventure linked to a rare complication following a gastroscopy at a public hospital two years ago, an inquest has found. The Coroner’s Court on Friday ruled that Lui Pak-to died of cerebral oedema, or brain swelling, triggered by the procedure at Queen Mary Hospital in Pok Fu Lam on February 29, 2024. Coroner Raymund Chow Chi-wei cited expert evidence indicating it was undesirable that Lui had to wait four hours and 40 minutes for a brain scan after... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3353662/hong-kong-inquest-finds-rare-gastroscopy-complication-caused-mans-death?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3353662/hong-kong-inquest-finds-rare-gastroscopy-complication-caused-mans-death?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 15 May 2026 05:35:36 +0000 Oscar Liu Oscar Liu Hong Kong health authorities have opened an investigation into a suspected medical blunder involving an improperly sealed catheter used in a heart operation on a 75-year-old man who later died at Tuen Mun Hospital. The Hospital Authority said on Thursday that the patient, who had a history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and high cholesterol, was admitted on Wednesday last week after his respiratory condition worsened. His health deteriorated further following an acute heart attack,... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3353601/medical-blunder-probe-opened-over-death-linked-improperly-sealed-catheter?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3353601/medical-blunder-probe-opened-over-death-linked-improperly-sealed-catheter?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 14 May 2026 13:23:28 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial It may seem like long ago that, for a period, visiting a loved one who was a patient in a public hospital was a logistical exercise, if it was allowed at all. That was, of course, during the Covid-19 pandemic. Visiting hours and the number of visitors allowed at any one time were limited. Visitors were permitted only on production of negative rapid antigen test or nucleic acid test results, and proof of vaccination. That such measures were accepted as necessary says something about the times and... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3353248/extended-visiting-hours-reflect-enlightened-approach-patient-care?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3353248/extended-visiting-hours-reflect-enlightened-approach-patient-care?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 12 May 2026 22:45:05 +0000 Theodora Yu Theodora Yu Hong Kong is expected to play a greater role in major national clinical research projects and scientific breakthroughs, a mainland Chinese health official has said, pledging stronger support for local researchers at an annual medical conference. The remarks were made by a National Health Commission official at the Hospital Authority Convention on Monday, where the authority’s chief also vowed to introduce more efficient service pathways and smart hospital initiatives to enhance healthcare... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3353160/hong-kong-urged-expand-role-national-medical-research-breakthroughs?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3353160/hong-kong-urged-expand-role-national-medical-research-breakthroughs?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 11 May 2026 09:54:51 +0000 Theodora Yu Theodora Yu More than 400 cancer patients are set to benefit from Hong Kong health authorities’ decision to subsidise a leukaemia drug, reducing annual treatment costs from up to HK$500,000 (US$63,800) to just HK$240. The Hospital Authority said on Wednesday that it began subsidising the medication, Dasatinib, in April, with the government expected to allocate an additional HK$49 million in annual spending to help cover the cost. As part of the move, Dasatinib was reclassified from a “self-financed item” to... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3352634/hongkongers-pay-only-hk240-year-leukaemia-drug-after-system-shake?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3352634/hongkongers-pay-only-hk240-year-leukaemia-drug-after-system-shake?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 06 May 2026 10:34:19 +0000 Jess Ma Jess Ma Nearly 60 per cent of homeless Hongkongers plan to make fewer medical visits due to higher fees, an NGO has found, with advocates urging authorities to introduce automatic waivers and simplify subsidy applications. Kenny Ng Kwan-lim, deputy head of programmes at Impact HK, a charity supporting the homeless, said many street sleepers faced significant hurdles in applying for waivers due to their unstable circumstances. “Even if their possessions have not been stolen, in the face of their health... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3352268/60-hong-kongs-homeless-plan-cut-medical-visits-amid-higher-fees-survey?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3352268/60-hong-kongs-homeless-plan-cut-medical-visits-amid-higher-fees-survey?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 03 May 2026 09:05:09 +0000 Letters Letters Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words. The 11th National Security Education Day once again showcased Hong Kong’s commitment to safeguarding stability while deepening integration into China’s national framework. Yet beneath the banners and speeches lies a sobering truth: the city’s future hinges not only on patriotic... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3352104/hong-kong-must-prioritise-well-being-flag-bearers-tomorrow?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3352104/hong-kong-must-prioritise-well-being-flag-bearers-tomorrow?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 02 May 2026 03:30:09 +0000 Jess Ma Jess Ma Hong Kong public hospitals will extend visiting hours at all rehabilitation and palliative wards from five to nine hours a day by the end of July, with those in central Kowloon and New Territories West expected to roll out the arrangement this month. Danny Tong Wah-kun, the Hospital Authority’s chief manager of nursing, said the authority would also enable round-the-clock visits at all paediatric wards by the end of July, adding to an existing arrangement for one carer to stay overnight in... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3352044/hong-kong-public-hospitals-extend-time-daily-visits-5-9-hours-july-31?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3352044/hong-kong-public-hospitals-extend-time-daily-visits-5-9-hours-july-31?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 30 Apr 2026 23:00:09 +0000 Letters Letters Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words. Your editorial, “Breaches reveal worrying gaps in Hong Kong’s data defences” (April 10), rightly warns that data security failures threaten Hong Kong’s innovation hub ambitions. Recent incidents include the data leak involving more than 56,000 patients served by the Hospital... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3351680/data-leaks-surge-hong-kong-needs-mandate-reporting?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3351680/data-leaks-surge-hong-kong-needs-mandate-reporting?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 29 Apr 2026 03:30:09 +0000 Matthew Cheng Matthew Cheng Hong Kong’s Hospital Authority has suspended all contractors’ access to patient data after a major leak affecting more than 56,000 patients, and is considering barring the company involved from bidding for future projects. But the authority on Thursday declined to say whether it would terminate the firm’s existing contracts or discipline any staff, citing an ongoing police probe. The authority confirmed earlier this month that personal data of more than 56,000 patients at United Christian... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3350360/hong-kongs-hospital-authority-bars-all-contractors-access-data-after-leak?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3350360/hong-kongs-hospital-authority-bars-all-contractors-access-data-after-leak?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 16 Apr 2026 13:40:49 +0000 William Yiu William Yiu The number of secondary school students diagnosed with mental illness in Hong Kong has doubled over the past five academic years, with the increase potentially under-reported due to reluctance among some pupils and parents to disclose health information, education authorities have said. The data is in line with a trend recorded by the Health Bureau showing a growing number of people aged 15 to 24 being treated at public hospital psychiatric departments. Among that age range, the number of... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3350120/number-hong-kong-secondary-students-mental-illness-doubles-over-last-5-years?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3350120/number-hong-kong-secondary-students-mental-illness-doubles-over-last-5-years?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 15 Apr 2026 04:18:08 +0000 Lam Ka-sing Lam Ka-sing Heartfelt tributes continued to be paid to Maisy Ho Chiu-ha, remembered as a dedicated philanthropist, after the daughter of late Hong Kong and Macau tycoon Stanley Ho Hung-sun died on Sunday, having led a notably private life. On Monday, official statements and tributes poured in from government officials and associations to mourn the loss of Maisy Ho, who had devoted herself to serving the community. She was one of 17 children of “king of gambling” Stanley Ho, and one of five siblings born to... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3349944/maisy-ho-remembered-dedicated-philanthropist-and-community-servant?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3349944/maisy-ho-remembered-dedicated-philanthropist-and-community-servant?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 13 Apr 2026 14:32:20 +0000 Wynna Wong Wynna Wong Hong Kong’s public hospital operator has suspended a medical intern and launched an investigation following a complaint that patient information had been exposed on social media, just days after another doctor was dismissed in a separate but similar privacy controversy that triggered citywide concern. The Hospital Authority said on Saturday that the case involved an intern at Princess Margaret Hospital in Kwai Chung, who had since been temporarily taken off clinical duties. “As a provider of... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3349761/medical-intern-suspended-after-complaint-over-patient-data-social-media-post?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3349761/medical-intern-suspended-after-complaint-over-patient-data-social-media-post?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 11 Apr 2026 15:51:06 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Innovation and technology are key drivers of economic growth and quality of life in Hong Kong. Efforts to make the city an international hub for those sectors have recently been undermined by worrying data breaches. Authorities and organisations handling public data must strengthen digital defences against hacking and mishandling. The latest incident involved the leak of data related to more than 56,000 patients and 1,000 staff members connected with Hospital Authority institutions in Kowloon... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3349485/breaches-reveal-worrying-gaps-hong-kongs-data-defences?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3349485/breaches-reveal-worrying-gaps-hong-kongs-data-defences?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 09 Apr 2026 23:15:11 +0000 Danny Mok Danny Mok Hong Kong police have arrested an employee of a systems maintenance contractor hired by the Hospital Authority on suspicion of stealing the personal data of more than 56,000 patients and 1,000 staff members. The arrest of a 30-year-old local man came just days after the authority reported on Saturday a suspected data leak involving patients in the Kowloon East group of hospitals on a third‑party platform, with police and the privacy watchdog investigating. Police revealed on Wednesday that more... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3349378/police-arrest-man-suspicion-stealing-personal-data-56000-patients?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3349378/police-arrest-man-suspicion-stealing-personal-data-56000-patients?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 08 Apr 2026 08:57:48 +0000 Edith Lin Edith Lin Hong Kong’s Hospital Authority has found a doctor breached its code of conduct after he posted a photo of a resuscitation procedure in a public hospital, with the case being passed to the Medical Council. The authority’s Kowloon West group of hospitals announced on Tuesday that it had terminated the doctor’s contract, one day after stating the man was “no longer an employee”. “The Kowloon West Cluster has completed its investigation into the incident. We confirm that the staff member breached... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3349301/hong-kong-doctor-axed-posting-resuscitation-photo-faces-medical-council-case?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3349301/hong-kong-doctor-axed-posting-resuscitation-photo-faces-medical-council-case?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 07 Apr 2026 14:44:31 +0000 Oscar Liu Oscar Liu A doctor who posted a photo of a resuscitation procedure in a Hong Kong public hospital is no longer employed by the Hospital Authority, following an outcry over patient privacy and professional ethics. The authority’s Kowloon West Cluster confirmed on Monday the doctor’s departure but did not say whether he had resigned or been dismissed. “The cluster had previously conducted a serious investigation and a comprehensive review of the incident. It confirmed that the individual involved is no... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3349154/hong-kong-doctor-who-posted-resuscitation-photo-exits-hospital-authority?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3349154/hong-kong-doctor-who-posted-resuscitation-photo-exits-hospital-authority?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 06 Apr 2026 08:30:57 +0000 Edith Lin Edith Lin Hong Kong’s privacy watchdog and police are investigating a large-scale data leak involving more than 56,000 patients served by the Hospital Authority, which reported the unauthorised retrieval of a variety of information. The authority on Saturday apologised to affected victims – patients of hospitals in Kowloon East – for the breach that compromised their names, identity card numbers, genders, dates of birth, dates of hospital visits and details of surgical procedures, among other... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3349020/probe-launched-after-hospital-authority-data-breach-involving-56000-patients?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3349020/probe-launched-after-hospital-authority-data-breach-involving-56000-patients?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 04 Apr 2026 04:55:14 +0000 Ng Kang-chung Ng Kang-chung Hong Kong is committed to helping mainland China’s medical and health standards “go global”, with a local minister hailing the city’s first time hosting a national medical conference as an event of “great significance”. Secretary for Health Lo Chung-mau also said Hong Kong was striving to meet the mainland’s certification requirements for a local stroke centre, following the accreditation of a heart disease treatment facility under national standards last year. Lo officiated at the opening of... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3348963/hong-kong-committed-helping-mainland-chinas-health-standards-go-global?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3348963/hong-kong-committed-helping-mainland-chinas-health-standards-go-global?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 03 Apr 2026 09:31:23 +0000 Matthew Cheng Matthew Cheng Members of Hong Kong’s ethnic minority groups enjoy near-universal access to digital devices but are not benefiting as much as they could from online services, the equality watchdog has said, urging the government to harness AI to provide multilingual support and simplify app registration. In a study released on Thursday on improving the digital divide among ethnic minority groups, Equal Opportunities Commission chairwoman Linda Lam Mei-sau said members of the community primarily used electronic... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3348032/official-apps-pose-hurdles-hong-kongs-ethnic-minority-groups-study-finds?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3348032/official-apps-pose-hurdles-hong-kongs-ethnic-minority-groups-study-finds?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Mar 2026 12:26:38 +0000 Fiona Sun Fiona Sun Tuen Mun Hospital has, for the first time in Hong Kong, used a non-invasive, MRI-guided ultrasound procedure to treat a Parkinson’s disease patient suffering from uncontrollable tremors, offering an alternative option for those affected by the condition. The hospital said it expected to provide the procedure to 40 patients within two years as part of further research into the new treatment. Magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) is a non-invasive, incisionless procedure that uses... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3347504/hong-kongs-first-mri-guided-ultrasound-offers-relief-parkinsons-tremors?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3347504/hong-kongs-first-mri-guided-ultrasound-offers-relief-parkinsons-tremors?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 22 Mar 2026 23:30:37 +0000 Oscar Liu Oscar Liu Hong Kong’s Hospital Authority has launched an investigation into the controversy over a social media image posted by a doctor showing him performing a resuscitation procedure inside a public hospital, sparking outcry over patient privacy and professional ethics. Jensen So, a doctor from the Kowloon West Cluster and a former contestant on ViuTV’s reality talent show King Maker III, posted the image on his Instagram account last Thursday. It has since been widely circulated on another social... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3347463/hospital-authority-investigates-privacy-concerns-over-doctors-social-media-post?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3347463/hospital-authority-investigates-privacy-concerns-over-doctors-social-media-post?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 22 Mar 2026 06:18:23 +0000 Theodora Yu Theodora Yu About 94 per cent of Hong Kong’s students do not get enough daily exercise and 17.5 per cent are overweight, authorities have warned, urging schools and parents to tackle the growing fitness crisis together. A government report released on Tuesday also flagged low fruit and vegetable intake, poor vision health and excessive recreational screen time among students. The findings were based on surveys and annual health assessments conducted by the Department of Health for the 2024-25 school year,... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3346918/94-hong-kong-students-are-couch-potatoes-175-overweight-study-shows?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3346918/94-hong-kong-students-are-couch-potatoes-175-overweight-study-shows?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 17 Mar 2026 12:39:11 +0000 Leopold Chen Leopold Chen Hong Kong authorities plan to expand a pilot programme to cut the transfer time by 80 minutes for patients suffering from serious strokes to public hospitals equipped with relevant surgical facilities. The Hospital Authority said on Wednesday that the diversion programme, which was launched in December and is currently only available in the New Territories, would be gradually expanded to the whole city after sufficient data had been collected. Before the pilot scheme’s launch, ambulances would... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3346255/hong-kong-expand-scheme-cutting-stroke-patient-transfer-time-80-minutes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3346255/hong-kong-expand-scheme-cutting-stroke-patient-transfer-time-80-minutes?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 11 Mar 2026 13:01:57 +0000 Wynna Wong Wynna Wong Hong Kong International Airport has staged a large-scale emergency drill to test its ability to respond to a major aircraft accident, with more than 1,000 personnel and hundreds of volunteers taking part. The annual aircraft crash and rescue exercise was held on the airport’s centre runway in the early hours of Tuesday, starting at 2.15am and concluding around four hours later. It simulated a departing flight forced to abort take-off after smoke was reported from a passenger’s power bank. In the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3345257/more-1000-personnel-volunteers-stage-emergency-drill-hong-kong-airport?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/transport/article/3345257/more-1000-personnel-volunteers-stage-emergency-drill-hong-kong-airport?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 03 Mar 2026 07:38:10 +0000 Letters Letters Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words Two years ago, amid plans for a citywide waste-charging scheme, the Hong Kong government rolled out smart food waste recycling bins on private housing estates with two years of free maintenance and collection services. This practical step reduced the city’s food waste, which still... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3344549/extend-support-smart-food-waste-bins-across-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3344549/extend-support-smart-food-waste-bins-across-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Feb 2026 03:30:08 +0000 Lo Hoi-ying Lo Hoi-ying Hong Kong’s public hospitals recorded a year-on-year decline of up to 15 per cent in the number of patients seeking emergency treatment during the first three days of the Lunar New Year holiday, following fee adjustments introduced at the start of the year. The decline was revealed on Friday by Dr Axel Siu Yuet-chung, chairman of the Hospital Authority’s coordinating committee in accident and emergency. He noted that accident and emergency departments (A&E) in public hospitals often became... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3344086/hong-kong-public-hospitals-report-decline-emergency-visits-over-lunar-new-year?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3344086/hong-kong-public-hospitals-report-decline-emergency-visits-over-lunar-new-year?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Feb 2026 05:15:53 +0000 Dicky Chow,Dorothy Yeung Dicky Chow,Dorothy Yeung Hong Kong introduced a public hospital fee overhaul at the start of the year in response to long-standing pressures from an ageing population, rising chronic diseases and growing expenditure. Early data from the Hospital Authority suggests the fee increases are having an effect. From January 1-18, semi-urgent and non-urgent cases at accident and emergency (A&E) departments fell by 21.3 per cent year on year, while critical and emergency cases rose slightly, by 7.7 per cent. This indicates... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3342286/fee-hikes-are-only-half-equation-if-hong-kong-health-reform-work?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3342286/fee-hikes-are-only-half-equation-if-hong-kong-health-reform-work?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 07 Feb 2026 01:30:09 +0000 Ambrose Li Ambrose Li More private hospitals in Hong Kong are expected to join the government’s free newborn screening programme for rare genetic conditions this year, according to health authorities. The scheme tests newborns for inherited metabolic disorders, enabling early identification and treatment while easing the long-term burden on the public healthcare system. The programme, launched in 2020, already covers all babies born in public hospitals. Last year, the screening was extended to two private ones under... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3342134/hong-kong-aims-enlist-more-private-hospitals-free-newborn-screening-scheme?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3342134/hong-kong-aims-enlist-more-private-hospitals-free-newborn-screening-scheme?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 02 Feb 2026 13:10:17 +0000 Fiona Sun Fiona Sun More than 110,000 patients have secured fee waivers since Hong Kong’s public medical fee reform took effect at the start of the year, a jump from a previous annual number of 14,000, the health minister has said while defending the overhaul. Secretary for Health Lo Chung-mau also said on Friday that among the more than 110,000 people with approved waivers, about 53,000 had already received certificates for fee reduction. The roughly 60,000 patients remaining who had failed to provide income and... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3341856/over-110000-secure-waivers-within-1-month-after-hong-kong-public-medical-fee-reform?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3341856/over-110000-secure-waivers-within-1-month-after-hong-kong-public-medical-fee-reform?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 30 Jan 2026 10:43:59 +0000 Oscar Liu Oscar Liu Four people injured in Hong Kong’s deadly Tai Po fire remain in hospital in stable conditions, while 75 others have been discharged as of Thursday, according to health authorities. A government spokesman said that healthcare staff would continue to provide appropriate treatment and care to the patients from the Wang Fuk Court fire, which claimed at least 168 lives and injured 79 in November last year. “All those injured in the fire and admitted to public hospitals under the Hospital Authority... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3341628/4-still-hospital-75-discharged-after-hong-kongs-tai-po-fire?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3341628/4-still-hospital-75-discharged-after-hong-kongs-tai-po-fire?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 29 Jan 2026 04:07:58 +0000 Emily Hung Emily Hung A government-subsidised screening and treatment programme set to launch next month is expected to identify about 23,000 hidden cases of chronic hepatitis B in Hong Kong, as part of a bigger plan to eliminate the public health threat within five years. Health authorities said on Monday that the “Hepatitis B Co-care Scheme” would cover people born in Hong Kong in or before 1988 along with first-degree family members – parents, siblings and children – or sexual partners who had already contracted... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3341296/hong-kong-expands-fight-against-hepatitis-b-how-many-hidden-cases-are-there?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3341296/hong-kong-expands-fight-against-hepatitis-b-how-many-hidden-cases-are-there?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 26 Jan 2026 13:49:30 +0000 Ambrose Li Ambrose Li Hong Kong’s flu vaccination rates among most age groups are below the 70 per cent threshold needed for herd immunity even as the winter influenza season approaches, a leading government medical adviser has warned. Professor David Hui Shu-cheong, chairman of the government’s Scientific Committee on Emerging and Zoonotic Diseases, on Saturday reminded the public to get vaccinated ahead of Lunar New Year, when social gatherings are frequent. He noted that 70 to 80 per cent of severe flu cases among... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3341085/flu-vaccination-rates-lag-hong-kong-winter-peak-nears-expert-warns?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3341085/flu-vaccination-rates-lag-hong-kong-winter-peak-nears-expert-warns?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 24 Jan 2026 03:32:02 +0000 Ada Li Ada Li Organisers of the Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon will set up a special task force to look into the “future development” of the event, after thousands of visitors flocked to take part in Sunday’s races and almost 50,000 runners were denied a spot. More than 90 per cent of the 74,000 who were awarded a place turned up, but officials previously said 120,000 people applied and athletes have asked before why Hong Kong does not follow in Singapore’s footsteps in spreading out events over 48... https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/article/3340335/hong-kong-marathon-organisers-look-turning-event-2-day-affair?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/sport/outdoor/article/3340335/hong-kong-marathon-organisers-look-turning-event-2-day-affair?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 18 Jan 2026 13:00:14 +0000 Harvey Kong Harvey Kong Hong Kong’s health minister has revealed that the number of less urgent patients seeking treatment at public hospital accident and emergency (A&E) departments has dropped by 24 per cent in the first 10 days of a new pricing regime. Secretary for Health Lo Chung-mau also said in a television interview on Saturday that authorities had so far approved 60,000 people for fee waivers, with about 80 per cent processed on the same day of application. Under a public hospital fee overhaul implemented on... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3340266/hong-kong-public-hospital-pricing-reform-slashes-less-urgent-ae-visits-24?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3340266/hong-kong-public-hospital-pricing-reform-slashes-less-urgent-ae-visits-24?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 17 Jan 2026 11:48:15 +0000 Fiona Sun Fiona Sun Hong Kong’s Hospital Authority has said it receives about 5,000 public medical fee waiver applications a day under a recent shake-up, with an average approval rate of around 85 per cent, following complaints from patients about complicated procedures. The authority released the numbers on Saturday, which showed that the approval rate for fee reductions at some public hospital clusters reached nearly 90 per cent, with patients issued a certificate on the same day they applied. “The Hospital... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3339455/hong-kongs-hospital-authority-approves-85-fee-waiver-requests-average?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3339455/hong-kongs-hospital-authority-approves-85-fee-waiver-requests-average?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 10 Jan 2026 14:11:53 +0000 Connor Mycroft Connor Mycroft Visits to accident and emergency (A&E) departments at Hong Kong’s public hospitals have dropped by nearly 12 per cent since a new pricing regime took effect, while the number of people benefiting from fee waivers has tripled. The Hospital Authority said on Friday that in the first week after the new fees regime was implemented on New Year’s Day it had seen a “significant decrease” in average daily A&E attendance, while more low-income families and underprivileged groups were being... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3339403/hong-kong-hospital-ae-department-visits-fall-12-after-new-fees-take-effect?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3339403/hong-kong-hospital-ae-department-visits-fall-12-after-new-fees-take-effect?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 09 Jan 2026 16:22:33 +0000 Letters Letters Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words The government’s recent move to close the loophole in part-time employee protection is a welcome step. By removing the 18 hours-a-week threshold for benefits and shifting the focus to total monthly hours from January 18, the Labour Department is finally ensuring part-time workers... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3338874/besides-part-time-employees-hong-kong-should-protect-gig-workers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3338874/besides-part-time-employees-hong-kong-should-protect-gig-workers?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 07 Jan 2026 03:30:11 +0000 Emily Hung Emily Hung Hong Kong security guard Yau has been caught in a protracted cycle of back-and-forth communications with social workers ever since she applied for a medical fee waiver early last November. The 63-year-old, who only gave her surname, shared her frustrations with the Post as she sought financial help amid a new fee regime in public hospitals that took effect on Thursday. “It’s truly a hassle. I need to contact the Jockey Club to get my husband’s betting account records, and then HSBC for all our... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3338632/low-income-hongkongers-stuck-endless-red-tape-medical-fee-waiver-applications?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3338632/low-income-hongkongers-stuck-endless-red-tape-medical-fee-waiver-applications?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 04 Jan 2026 01:00:30 +0000 Susan Su,Elizabeth Cheung Susan Su,Elizabeth Cheung Most patients visiting Hong Kong emergency departments at public hospitals at night for minor ailments were not aware they could go to evening clinics instead, although securing a booking was difficult and multiple calls were needed before a successful slot could be confirmed. With a new fees regime in public hospitals beginning on Thursday, authorities aimed to divert less urgent cases away from accident and emergency (A&E) departments, encouraging patients to visit public clinics for minor or... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3338606/most-patients-hong-kong-ae-departments-unaware-evening-clinics-alternative?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3338606/most-patients-hong-kong-ae-departments-unaware-evening-clinics-alternative?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 03 Jan 2026 07:28:48 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Patients are coming to terms with the steep rise in public hospital fees, which came into effect on New Year’s Day. For many, this includes an increase to HK$400 (US$51.39) from HK$180 for a visit to the accident and emergency department, a charge now waived for cases considered critical or an emergency and for means-tested patients who cannot afford to pay. Thankfully, there was no last-minute rush to beat the fee increase on New Year’s Eve, though plans to cope with this have still helped to... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3338532/hong-kongs-public-hospital-fees-rise-balance-must-be-watchword?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3338532/hong-kongs-public-hospital-fees-rise-balance-must-be-watchword?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 02 Jan 2026 23:15:08 +0000 William Yiu William Yiu About 85 per cent of those injured in the deadly Tai Po fire in Hong Kong have been discharged, while the rest are in a stable condition, according to health authorities. The Health Bureau also said on Wednesday that 63 affected residents received free family doctor consultations, 18 received free denture replacements in private dental clinics, and 24 were scheduled to receive Chinese medicine services. The fire at Wang Fuk Court in November claimed at least 161 lives and injured 79 others,... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3338406/85-injured-hong-kong-fire-victims-discharged-others-stable-condition?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3338406/85-injured-hong-kong-fire-victims-discharged-others-stable-condition?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 01 Jan 2026 09:22:50 +0000 Leopold Chen,Emily Hung,Jess Ma Leopold Chen,Emily Hung,Jess Ma The first day of Hong Kong’s revamped pricing regime at public hospitals was marked by confusion and frustration, as some patients said they were caught off guard by the changes and complained about higher fees, even as authorities reported a smooth roll-out. Several patients urged the government to expand capacity at public clinics – the most affordable option for low-income residents, despite a threefold increase in fees under the reform – saying the persistent difficulty in securing... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3338371/hong-kong-public-hospitals-emergency-services-run-smoothly-despite-higher-fees?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3338371/hong-kong-public-hospitals-emergency-services-run-smoothly-despite-higher-fees?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 01 Jan 2026 04:45:50 +0000 Emily Hung,Susan Su Emily Hung,Susan Su Nine patients visiting accident and emergency (A&E) departments at public hospitals in Hong Kong shortly after midnight were spared higher fees despite a new pricing regime taking effect on Thursday, while others said they had no choice but to pay more or opted to see private doctors instead. The revamped pricing regime, which took effect on New Year’s Day, requires patients with milder conditions and stronger financial means to pay higher fees, while offering greater support to those with more... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3338349/6-patients-spared-higher-fees-new-hospital-charges-take-effect-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3338349/6-patients-spared-higher-fees-new-hospital-charges-take-effect-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 31 Dec 2025 18:05:59 +0000 Letters Letters Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words Hong Kong is gearing up for the launch of the healthcare revamp on January 1. While many people are worried about the rise in medical fees, I believe more people will come to see the benefits of the new fee structure. In particular, the HK$10,000 (US$1,300) annual spending cap... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3338123/annual-spending-cap-protects-medically-and-financially-risk?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3338123/annual-spending-cap-protects-medically-and-financially-risk?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 31 Dec 2025 03:30:08 +0000 Lo Hoi-ying,Themis Chen Lo Hoi-ying,Themis Chen Hong Kong will overhaul public hospital fees from January 1 to ensure the sustainable development of its healthcare system amid challenges from an ageing population. Authorities estimate the increased fees could generate an additional HK$3 billion (US$385 million) a year, with the extra revenue earmarked to support patients facing financial hardship or critical illnesses. The government also plans to gradually reduce the public healthcare subsidy rate from 97.6 per cent to 90 per cent by... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3338203/x-rays-free-ae-cost-more-post-breaks-down-hong-kongs-new-hospital-fees?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3338203/x-rays-free-ae-cost-more-post-breaks-down-hong-kongs-new-hospital-fees?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 31 Dec 2025 02:00:12 +0000 Emily Hung,Ambrose Li Emily Hung,Ambrose Li Hong Kong’s public hospitals will raise a range of charges from January 1, while anxious lower-income patients who face higher bills but do not qualify under new fee waiver thresholds are calling for more government help. From Thursday, patients will need to pay more in general, but the safety net will also be widened to support the neediest, with an annual HK$10,000 cap on medical fees introduced and the current fee waiver scheme expanded to cover an extra 1.1 million people. However, some... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3338208/low-income-patients-call-more-help-steeper-hong-kong-hospital-fees-loom?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3338208/low-income-patients-call-more-help-steeper-hong-kong-hospital-fees-loom?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 31 Dec 2025 00:30:14 +0000