▲ Director of the Medical and Health Bureau, Lo Chung-moo, said that after the reform, the general outpatient clinics of the Hospital Authority will focus on caring for disadvantaged groups.
[Lo Chung-moo/Hospital Authority/General Outpatient Clinic/Policy Address 2024]The policy address proposed a number of medical reform measures. Director of the Medical and Health Bureau, Lo Chung-moo, pointed out that the General Outpatient Clinic of the Hospital Authority will become the mainstay after the reform. To take care of vulnerable groups, the government will study and optimize the definition of vulnerable groups. Critically ill patients who do not belong to vulnerable groups will also have to pay.
The policy address proposes to reform the positioning of the Hospital Authority, the Department of Health and the Primary Care Department. The Department of Health will focus on supervision, and will no longer provide treatment services such as thoracic and dermatology. Public hospitals will be responsible for disadvantaged groups and critically ill patients.
Lu Chongmao admitted in a TV program yesterday that in the future, general outpatient clinics may only accept consultations from disadvantaged groups. Patients with other chronic diseases or colds should instead seek medical treatment from private doctors. “General outpatient clinics take care of some disadvantaged groups.” “Family doctors”… Otherwise, no matter how many doctors we train, they will all be wasted.”
He said he would study to optimize the existing definition of disadvantaged groups by the Hospital Authority or simplify the application process for free services. He revealed that as for critically ill patients, including stroke, heart disease, cancer, rare diseases and even infant diseases, such patients will also have to pay unless they are from disadvantaged groups, but the government will study increasing subsidies for critically ill patients.
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▲ Lu Chongmao, Director of the Medical and Health Bureau. (File picture)
Medical reform｜First, we must establish a drug list for primary care
The policy address also proposes to launch a “community pharmacy” plan in the fourth quarter of 2026. Lu Chongmao pointed out that after the launch of community pharmacies, it will be convenient for citizens to receive HA drugs. The services will cover patients in public hospitals, residential institutions or chronic disease co-treatment programs, but will not cover fever, cold and other mild medicines in general private clinics.
He said the initial concept of community pharmacies would cover 18 districts in Hong Kong, with at least five to six in each district ‘Community Pharmacy’”.
Why wait until 2026 to launch? Lu Chongmao explained that setting up a community pharmacy is not simple. First, it is necessary to establish a drug list for primary care, then purchase commonly used drugs, and upgrade the computer system. Finally, it is necessary to recruit enough pharmacists and provide adequate training.
He stressed that the cost of dispensing medicines in community pharmacies is the same as that of HSE services. He described the response from pharmacists to the program so far. “They are not just as simple as dispensing medicines, they can provide the public with medication safety, as well as health management.”
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