Replies to LegCo questions
LCQ17: No plan to increase the number of private beds in public hospitals
Following is a question by the Dr Hon Kwok Ka-ki and a written reply by the Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food, Dr York Chow, in the Legislative Council today (June 7):
Question:
It has been reported that the Chief Executive of the Hospital Authority (HA)
pointed out at the HA Convention held in early May this year that 23% of HA
patients had medical insurance cover or certain subsidies, while persons having
such insurance or subsidies constituted 37% of the total Hong Kong population;
furthermore, 10% (200 000 persons) of HA patients had a monthly income of
$35,000, which is twice the overall median income for Hong Kong. He said that
these patients were willing or could afford paying higher medical fees and
charges, and they could turn to the private sector or private services provided
by HA, and HA was therefore considering the provision of wider service choices
for them. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council whether it
knows:
(a) the sources of the above data, the target group, number of subjects,
statistical method and details of the results of the survey concerned;
(b) the justifications for HA's claim that the above patients can afford paying
higher medical fees and charges; and
(c) HA's plan to provide wider service choices for such patients, and whether HA
is considering a corresponding increase in the number of private beds in HA
hospitals?
Reply :
Madam President,
(a) In a speech given at the Opening Ceremony of the Hospital Authority (HA)
Convention on May 8, 2006, the Chief Executive of HA (CE/HA) indicated that,
"The HA data shows that among users of HA hospitals, 23% have medical insurance
or subsidy, compared with 37% in the total Hong Kong population. The top 10% of
HA users have monthly incomes over $35,000 per month - that is about 200 000 of
our existing patients earn more than double the median income for all of Hong
Kong. So HA is already attracting a significant portion of people who have
chosen to spend extra on their health care or have the capacity to do so."
The figures quoted by CE/HA above were based on the preliminary results of a
household survey conducted by the HA except for the figure on the percentage of
total Hong Kong population with medical insurance coverage, which was worked out
from information published by the Hong Kong Federation of Insurers.
The household survey was conducted in the second half of 2005 as part of the new
round of review of public medical fees now being conducted by the Administration
and the HA. Data of the survey were collected from face-to-face interviews with
over 3 000 persons. These respondents were randomly selected based on a
scientific sampling method from 2.1 million patients, who had utilised HA's
inpatient, specialist outpatient or Accident and Emergency services at least
once in the 2004-05 financial year, excluding HA's private patients and those
patients who were not eligible to receive public hospital services at heavily
subsidised rates (i.e. excluding Non-eligible Persons). As the public medical
fee review exercise is yet to be concluded, we are not in a position to release
the results of the survey.
(b) We understand that CE/HA meant that the HA was already attracting a group of
users who have the capacity to spend more on health care because they are paying
for their own private health insurance and their income is significantly higher
than the median household income for all of Hong Kong, which is around $16,000
per month in the second half of 2005 according to the Census and Statistics
Department.
(c) The HA will continue to strive to improve the quality and standard of both
its public and private services. However, there is currently no plan to increase
the number of private beds in public hospitals.
Ends/Wednesday, June 7, 2006
Issued at HKT 12:38
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