Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture Elsie Ao Ieong U says that the Cotai hospital complex will be operated with three charging models, namely free-of-charge public services, public services at discounted fees, and private services providing high-end healthcare choices.
The policy secretary has also said that the government is now expecting to start the first phase of the Cotai hospital complex’s operation in December this year.
The hospital complex in south Cotai, officially known as Islands Healthcare Complex, will be operated by Peking Union Medical College Hospital (aka Beijing Xiehe Hospital).
Ao Ieong made the remarks while speaking to reporters on Friday after attending a closed-door meeting of a standing committee of the Legislative Assembly (AL), which is currently reviewing a government-initiated bill regulating the management of the Cotai hospital complex.
The legislature passed the outline of the bill in January this year, which proposes that the Macau government will ensure that the operation of the Islands Healthcare Complex will be sufficiently financed, while Peking Union Medical College Hospital will be responsible for operating and managing the Cotai hospital complex, through its “brand” and medical techniques, in collaboration with the Macau government.
Currently, Macau has three main hospitals, comprising the public Conde de São Januário Hospital Centre and two private ones, namely Kiang Wu Hospital, and the University Hospital run by the private Macau University of Science and Technology (MUST).
Ao Ieong said on Friday that the Cotai hospital complex will have three charging schemes. In the first level, she said, local patients eligible for free public health services will also enjoy free services at the Cotai hospital after referral by the Health Bureau (SSM).
In the second level, according to Ao Ieong, local residents ineligible for free public health services will have to pay fees “that are reasonable” at the Cotai hospital after referral by the Health Bureau.
According to the policy secretary, the third level will be private health services providing locals and non-locals alike with high-end healthcare choices, where they will have to pay fees that will be determined in reference to the levels of the private healthcare market.
Ao Ieong said that the local government will discuss with Peking Union Medical College Hospital whether it can offer a discount to local residents who use the third-level healthcare services.
Ao Ieong also said that a 50-strong management team from Peking Union Medical College Hospital in Beijing will come to Macau to work at the Cotai hospital complex, while the Macau government will recruit around 400 healthcare workers for the Cotai hospital.
The policy secretary underlined that the local government will prioritise the recruitment of local residents.
Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture Elsie Ao Ieong U talks to reporters in the Legislative Assembly (AL) on Friday. – Photo: GCS
