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Hong Kong healthcare and hospitals
Hong KongHealth & Environment

New pilot cross-border mercy mission hospital transfer scheme to be extended to non-Hongkonger patients, health secretary says

  • Cross-border ambulance transfer service pilot scheme to include non-Hongkonger patients from mainland China and Macau
  • Service, which will allow direct ambulance transfers across the border, expected to start by end of month or early May

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Mainland Chinese ambulances will transfer patients from across the border and Macau, as well as Hongkongers, to the financial hub for treatment. Photo: Shutterstock
Elizabeth Cheung
A pilot cross-border ambulance transfer service designed to move Hong Kong patients from mainland China and Macau hospitals for treatment will also be used to ferry non-residents in medical care mercy missions, the health minister has said.
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Lo Chung-mau, the health secretary, was speaking as a pilot scheme prepared to launch, probably by the end of the month or in early May.

“The direct cross-border ambulance arrangement will not only be limited to Hongkongers,” he said after an antechamber exchange session with members of the Legislative Council.

“We should consider the requirements of anyone with medical needs, even those who are not Hong Kong residents.”

Health secretary Lo Chung-mau says an ambulance transfer pilot scheme will include mainland Chinese and Macau patients, as well as the original target group of Hongkongers living in the two areas. Photo: Elson Li
Health secretary Lo Chung-mau says an ambulance transfer pilot scheme will include mainland Chinese and Macau patients, as well as the original target group of Hongkongers living in the two areas. Photo: Elson Li
The announcement signalled a change in the scope of the Greater Bay Area scheme – previous chief executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor in 2019 said the proposed service would be for Hongkongers only.
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