Everyone knows that in Hong Kong, it is too difficult to see a doctor.
Although the price of medical treatment in Hong Kong's public hospitals is really cheap, the medical services in Hong Kong's public hospitals have been in short supply, whether they are accident and emergency departments or general outpatient clinics.
The HA has acute care services in 18 public hospitals, and under the patient triage system, patients are classified into five categories according to their clinical conditions: critical, critical, urgent, sub-urgent and non-urgent.
Source: HK01
In the past 10 years, the number of critical, critical and emergency cases has increased from an average of about 61,000 cases per month in 2014 to an average of about 68,000 cases per month in 2018 and an average of about 73,000 cases per month in 2023.
"According to the Health Bureau, sub-emergency and non-emergency cases account for as much as 50 to 60 per cent, and most of these patients classified as sub-urgent or non-urgent, such as influenza infection or stable episodic diseases such as gastrointestinal discomfort, can be managed by general out-patient clinics, private doctors or private hospitals. ”
As a result, almost every year, there is news of patients in Hong Kong "waiting until they die" in the emergency department of public hospitals.
So, why don't patients go to the general outpatient clinic?
The HA's General Out-patient Clinics provide more than 5 million non-emergency outpatient services annually and are available to patients with stable chronic illnesses and patients with relatively mild symptoms of episporadic diseases.
Source: HK01
Therefore, the Hong Kong government has been effectively alleviating the pressure on public acute medical services.
But the majority of the public in primary care needs,.
In addition, although the private healthcare sector is good, it is affordable for low-income people and disadvantaged groups.
I'm sure you also have questions:
"The Hong Kong government has huge financial reserves, so why not invest more resources to build more hospitals and provide more beds to address the problem of an ageing population and increasing medical needs?"
This is because, what Hong Kong needs to strengthen is primary health care.
Source: Chinese Studies
Primary health generally refers to the continuous care of individuals and families in a continuous care process, and is the first level of care in the healthcare system, on which other parts of the healthcare system are based.
To use a football game as an analogy, if the defense is done well, minor problems are immediately dealt with and corrected, and the chances of winning are greater.
The Hong Kong government is relieving the pressure on the public healthcare system, especially the specialist outpatient clinics of public hospitals.
That being said, the hospital still has to be built, and the Hong Kong government has been working on it.
It's just that the hardware and software are improved!
And this is also the pain point of Hong Kong medical care:
Hong Kong's medical manpower is really too short!
01
Hong Kong doctors: It is better to have a shortage than to overuse
First of all.
As we all know, Hong Kong has a very strict control over the medical profession, and only the best people can be doctors, so that patients can feel at ease.
However, either HKU or CUHK are among the top 50 in the world.
Source: Yahoo News
Last year, of the four top students of DSE in Hong Kong, except for one student who decided to go to Cambridge for further studies, the remaining three stayed in Hong Kong to study.
However, at present, there are 295 medical places.
Even after graduation, the Hong Kong Hospital Authority will need to arrange a one-year internship in a public hospital before becoming a full-fledged resident doctor.
Think about it: what is the situation in a city of 7.5 million people who are qualified to practice medicine every year?
In order for doctors from outside Hong Kong to practise medicine in Hong Kong, they must pass an examination, called the "Licensing Examination".
And this exam is very difficult, it can be called hell, and it is called by foreign medical experts!
Source: Ming Pao
The exam is divided into four parts, and the most difficult part is the professional knowledge test, with a pass rate of only 11% to 28% in recent years.
Second!
According to the report of the Hong Kong Hospital Authority, public hospitals lost 281 doctors and 1,821 nurses respectively last year, and in the past three years, 1,032 full-time doctors left their non-retirement jobs and 6,049 full-time nurses left their non-retirement jobs.
"Although it is true that public doctors in Hong Kong are well paid, it is true that many of them have also switched to private hospitals or private practice. ”
Overall, the attrition rates of nurses and allied health professionals were 9.5% and 7.5% respectively, an improvement from last year, but a worrying trend.
Source: Yahoo News
Public healthcare resources continue to be scarce, and the waiting time for grassroots people to visit public hospitals is getting longer and longer, and waiting for specialist outpatient clinics for several years is the norm.
02
Hong Kong: What is the solution?
In order to solve the shortage of medical staff, there are only two ways to retain the existing staff:
One is, two is.
In terms of the former, the University of Hong Kong and the Chinese University of Hong Kong have continued to increase the number of medical places in recent years!
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) is also aiming to establish a third local medical school, with a future goal of nurturing 200 medical students per year.
Source: HK01
For the latter, in 2021, the Government further introduced a new "special registration" route to benefit non-locally trained doctors holding recognised medical qualifications, so that they can work as doctors in the HA and obtain full registration if they meet specified conditions, without the need for applicants to sit for the local licensing examination.
In the past year, 138 non-locally trained doctors have been working in the HA as at the end of March this year, and the number is expected to increase to 200 by the end of the year!
At the same time, the Hong Kong government is also good at leveraging its strength to provide more choices and convenience for citizens to seek medical treatment!
In recent years, Hong Kong has strengthened co-operation with Mainland medical institutions in the GBA, including:
We will set up a Hong Kong-style public hospital similar to the HKU-Shenzhen Hospital in the Greater Bay Area, expand the "Greater Bay Area Pilot Scheme for Elderly Health Care Vouchers" to cover core cities in the Greater Bay Area, and launch the "Hong Kong-Macao Medicines and Medical Device Connect" policy to provide treatment convenience for Hong Kong people, so as to ensure that Hong Kong people can receive essential medical services in the Mainland.
Source: Ming Pao
After all, patients are suffering from illnesses and waiting for a long day, and cross-border medical treatment provides a new channel for Hong Kong people to have an additional choice, which can not only help to quickly get rid of the pain and suffering, but also relieve the pressure on Hong Kong's public hospitals to a certain extent.
Here the Hong Kong government is committed to further optimizing the local healthcare system;
Recently, Hong Kong people have been keen to go north, in addition to eating, drinking and having fun, including physical examinations, dental check-ups, and various surgical treatments.
The advantages of "affordable price, good environment, short waiting time and short distance" are the biggest incentives for Hong Kong people to choose to seek medical treatment in the mainland cities of the Greater Bay Area!
They "went north for medical treatment", aiming at exactly!
Source: Sing Tao Headlines
In other words, if Hong Kong people need to seek medical treatment, and Hong Kong's local medical care needs to wait too long, they can "go north" to choose a hospital cooperated by the Hong Kong government and the mainland (receiving Hong Kong-style treatment), or they can choose to be treated at a low-cost hospital in a compliant hospital in the mainland.
Another benefit for Hong Kong people: !
03
"Social Security Scheme: Five Insurances and One Housing Fund (Hong Kong Version)"
Friends who live or work in the mainland must have heard of the "five insurances and one housing fund", that is, social security.
The social security system in the mainland can be traced back to the social security and welfare system introduced in 2011 at the earliest.
Starting from 1 January 2020, Hong Kong residents (including employees, self-employed and Hong Kong residents residing but not employed) who are working, living and providing for retirement in the Mainland can also participate in social security.
Source: Sing Tao Headlines
As for the relationship between "social security" and "Hong Kong people", let's take a look at it today.
Q1
Is it mandatory for all Hong Kong people living or working in the mainland to pay social security?
Not all Hong Kong people living in the Mainland are required to pay social insurance.
The compulsion of participation in social security varies according to the employment and employment situation of Hong Kong residents.
Hong Kong residents who are lawfully employed by employers in the Mainland are required to participate in social security schemes, while they are engaged in self-employed businesses in the Mainland.
Q2
Are the social security benefits enjoyed by Hong Kong people in the Mainland the same under different employment situations?
It's different.
Scenario 1: Hong Kong residents who are engaged in self-employed businesses in the Mainland and have applied for a "Residence Permit for Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan Residents" may voluntarily participate in the basic pension insurance and basic medical insurance for employees.
Situation 2: Hong Kong residents residing in the Mainland who have applied for a "Residence Permit for Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan Residents" but have not done so may voluntarily participate in the basic old-age insurance and basic medical insurance for urban and rural residents.
Source: Sunny Post
However, there is a knowledge point involved here!
Q3
What is a "Residence Permit for Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan Residents"?
Residents of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan residing in the Mainland who have lived in the Mainland for more than half a year and meet the requirements may apply for a residence permit valid for five years according to their own wishes, and can be renewed upon the expiration of the validity period.
Required Materials:
Valid Mainland Travel Permit for Hong Kong and Macao Residents
Photographs that have been tested as qualified by the testing center
Proof of residence for half a year (legal and stable employment/legal and stable residence/proof of continuous enrollment issued by the school)
*Proof of legal and stable residence includes a lease agreement, a property ownership certificate, a purchase agreement, or an accommodation certificate issued by the lessor, employer, or school
Fill in the Registration Form for Application for Residence Permit for Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan Residents
Source: HK01
Q4
What is the difference between Social Security and Hong Kong MPF MPF?
Both social security and MPF require employers and employees to contribute to the fund.
However, the role of MPF is to ensure the basic life after retirement, which can be simply understood as the government's mandatory requirement to save money and manage money.
Source: TVB NEWS
However, the Hong Kong government does not provide medical insurance, and basically buys it from an outside insurance institution by itself.
Social security, on the other hand, covers a wide range of protections, in addition to:
Q5
Documents required for Hong Kong people to apply for social security/how to apply
Hong Kong residents applying for social security in Shenzhen are required to bring the following documents to prove it:
Required Materials:
Shenzhen Social Insurance (Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan) Individual Participation Registration/Change Registration Application Form
Residence permit for Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan residents
Home Return Permit
A financial social security card opened in Shenzhen
*Hong Kong residents who have not applied for a financial social security card can provide proof of current savings accounts with Shenzhen China, Agriculture, Industry and Commerce, Construction, China Merchants, Communications, CITIC, Ping An and Rural Commercial Bank.
Methods and procedures for Hong Kong residents to apply for social security:
Methods and processes
1. In person: go to the social insurance agency in the place of residence and the overseas entrusted agency of the cooperative financial institution to handle it by yourself
2. Entrusting handling: Entrusting the village (resident) coordinator of the place of residence to handle it
3. Online application: through the "Guangdong Provincial Affairs" mini program
Of course, if you feel troublesome, you can also go through a "chargé d'affaires" process through the Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions!
4. Hong Kong Agency of the Federation of Trade Unions for Social Security
Entrusted by the Social Insurance Fund Protection Bureau of the Mainland cities of the Greater Bay Area, the Federation of Trade Unions will launch the Mainland Social Security Agency Service in May 2023.
Source: HK01
"Some minor controversies about social security"
However, social security, as a benefit that mainland taxpayers should enjoy, also has such voices on the Internet:
"I don't agree with letting Hong Kong people come to Shenzhen to grab medical benefits. ”
What do you think? Welcome to leave a message in the comment area.