Proposal to help sick Tin Shui Wai residents
Chronically ill patients in Tin Shui Wai may be subsidised to visit private clinics up to 10 times a year under a pilot project to be launched next year by the government.
Secretary for Food and Health York Chow Yat-ngok said it was hoped the scheme would strengthen collaboration between the public and private sector.
Dr Chow said that as healthy people usually visited doctors three or four times a year, 10 subsidised visits a year to private clinics should be adequate for chronically ill patients.
Under the proposal, outlined by Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen in his policy address, the Hospital Authority would select a group of patients from Tin Shui Wai's general outpatient clinic for the pilot scheme.
The patients would pay HK$45 per visit to private doctors in the district, including drugs - the same fee charged at public clinics.
Six regular consultations a year are proposed for those with chronic diseases, with four unexpected visits for occasional illnesses such as flu and skin allergies.
