Norman Ng: Healthcare In Hong Kong – Our Priorities
Norman Ng, Director of Patient Advocacy and Public Affairs at Healthcare Thinkers, shared a post on LinkedIn:
“Healthcare In Hong Kong – Our Priorities
There is an imbalance between the distribution of public health care resources and the financial burden of out-of-pocket drugs on the middle class. Here are some analyses and possible recommendations for this data:
Data Background
- Acute Allowance: The total annual subsidy for acute services is HK$2.9 billion.
- Out-of-pocket pressure for middle-class patients: In terms of self-financed drugs, middle-class patients do not have a public safety net and need to pay a total of HK$1.1 billion out of pocket every year.
This is a clear reflection of the financial pressures on the middle class when faced with expensive out-of-pocket drugs, and current policies do not seem to adequately address the plight of this group in need.
Policy Recommendations
1. Reallocation of resources: Consider adjusting the subsidy for some acute services and shifting resources to subsidies for out-of-pocket drugs to provide stronger support for middle-class patients.
2. Middle-Class Medical Subsidy Scheme:
- Set up a special subsidy scheme to reduce financial pressure by providing co-pay and rebates or caps on part of the medical expenses provided by pharmaceutical companies to meet the demand of the middle class for out-of-pocket drugs.
- For example, you can refer to the ‘buy 2 get 1 free’ or ‘drug cost cap’ model to ensure that patients who have been taking medication for a long time will not be forced to give up treatment due to the high cost of drugs.
3. Health Financing Reform:
- Set up a Family Medisave Account to give the middle class the flexibility to use the savings to pay for out-of-pocket medications.
- Increase the exemption amount of the voluntary health insurance scheme to encourage more people to participate, thereby easing the burden of public healthcare.
4. Public-Private Partnerships: Establish a mechanism to integrate public and private healthcare services, so that patients can flexibly choose different healthcare channels and enjoy the benefits of subsidy schemes.
5. Introducing more competitive drugs:
- Promote more innovative drugs from the Mainland and international to enter Hong Kong market, enhance drug competitiveness and further reduce drug prices.
Encouragement and Future Prospects
Your voice has a significant impact on driving policy improvements! Policymakers should be given a clearer view of the plight of middle-class patients in health subsidy policies, so as to develop a more equitable distribution mechanism.
Whether through funding, institutional reform, or partnerships with the private sector, we can move towards more equitable and sustainable health care.”
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