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| Treatment at emergency rooms will now cost more than double the previous fee |
From today, Jan. 1, patients who seek treatment at accident and emergency wards of public hospitals will be charged HK$400 from the previous HK$180, except in cases classified as critical or emergency.
This is part of a major reform
of public health care service charges which takes effect on the first day of
the New Year.
As part of the changes, fees
for medicines dispensed at specialist and family medicine outpatient clinics
will also be adjusted, and the prescriptions limited to a maximum of four weeks’
supply per visit.
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| DETAILS HERE |
Authorities are also
introducing a "co-payment model" for certain specialised services
such as complicated pathology tests and non-urgent imaging scans, which will be
charged at between $50 and $500.
However, basic check-ups with
high demand will remain free of charge.
To mitigate the financial impact
on some residents, an annual cap of HK$10,000 on certain public medical fees
will be introduced, regardless of the patient’s financial capability.
Existing fee-waiving
mechanisms for needy patients will also continue. The Hospital Authority says applications
for fee waivers can be filed ahead of time.
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| Basahin ang detalye! |
In anticipation of a rash of
questions and concerns over the new fee structure, the HA said more than 1,000
staff will be deployed starting Thursday to assist patients at public
hospitals. Those who need their help should look for workers wearing orange
armbands.
The said hospital staff called
patient service ambassadors are tasked with helping patients apply for fee
waivers, reservations and bill payments, and other related concerns.
Meanwhile, higher penalties for traffic violations also took place starting today.
Fines for 19 specified offences
such as unauthorized parking, speeding, crossing white lines and using a
handheld phone while driving will increase from between HK$320 and HK$1,000 to
HK$480 and HK$1,500.
The Transport Department said
the deterrent effect of the previous fines has diminished because of inflation.
Also set to increase is the
fixed penalty for smoking offences. The previous fee of HK$1,500 will be
doubled to HK$3,000 as a further deterrent to smokers.
The higher fine will now also
apply for those who smoke while queuing for public transport or at the
entrances and exits of public places.
In relation to this,
non-smoking areas will be extended to within three meters of the doorways of
hospitals, government clinics, schools, residential care homes and childcare
centers.
