The government is considering setting up a new type of medical institution, a facility in-between a hospital and a clinic, to expand the healthcare market, as well as to facilitate the development of the city’s “big health” industry, Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture Elsie Ao Ieong U said yesterday.
Ao Ieong made the remarks during a one-day Q&A session in the Legislative Assembly’s (AL) hemicycle yesterday about her portfolio’s policy guidelines for next year, adding that in view of the new type of medical institution, the government would push for legislation on a regulatory system for small medical institutions.
Ao Ieong underlined that the government is also planning to set up the Macao Centre for Testing of Chinese Medicine and the Macao Centre for Research and Development in Chinese Medicine through the University of Macau (UM) next year, in order to develop an “influential” technological system and innovation platform for the research and production of Macau’s Chinese medicine prescriptions.
Ao Ieong also said the government was committed to building a healthy city and would focus on promoting healthy lifestyles in the city next year, such as encouraging enterprises to provide a healthy working environment for employees and encouraging the use of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for preventive health care.
Islands Healthcare Complex to start trial run
Ao Ieong noted that the Islands Healthcare Complex (operated by Peking Union Medical College Hospital, aka Beijing Xiehe Hospital) will start its trial operation by the end of this year, with the first phase providing health management and specialist outpatient services, after which it will gradually roll out comprehensive cancer treatment services with a focus on radiation therapy, as well as inpatient medical and surgical services.
The centre will also offer special services, including aesthetic medicine and TCM treatment, so as to attract more visitors to Macau for medical and health purposes, Ao Ieong said.
Reduced waiting times
During yesterday’s plenary session, Ao Ieong noted that the average waiting time at specialist clinics in public hospitals has been reduced to 3.6 weeks as the Health Bureau (SSM) has used big data to reduce medical waiting times, taking into account its experience during the COVID-19 pandemic.
If the waiting time for emergency cases exceeds 120 minutes or the utilisation rate of acute beds reaches the threshold, Ao Ieong said, the bureau will be informed to immediately deploy manpower or arrange internal beds to shorten the waiting time and provide immediate follow-up services for emergency cases such as advanced neoplasms and serious mental illnesses.
However, Ao Ieong acknowledged that some diseases have relatively long waiting times, “but these diseases can wait’”, Ao Ieong took the example of orthopaedics, where the government will limit the waiting time to no more than 10 to 12 weeks, while the waiting time for ophthalmology will be limited to 10 weeks, which Ao Ieong said was due to Macau’s increasing elderly population and high demand for cataract surgery.
In addition, Ao Ieong acknowledged, the Tap Seac Health Centre, located next to the Macau Central Library, is affected by inadequate space, and the bureau is studying the possibility of relocating the Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC) that is currently located next to the Tap Seac Health Centre and expanding the health centre there.
Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture Elsie Ao Ieong U looks on during yesterday’s Q&A session about her portfolio’s 2024 policy guidelines in the Legislative Assembly’s (AL) hemicycle. – Photo courtesy of TDM
