Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture Elsie Ao Ieong U said yesterday that the Cotai hospital complex fees will generally be similar to those of local private clinics, but will be operated with three pricing models starting from September 16, namely free public services, public services at discounted fees, and private services providing high-end healthcare choices.
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 responding to an oral interpellation during a plenary session in the Legislative Assembly (AL) yesterday, adding that an X-ray examination service has been provided by the Cotai hospital since the start of this month, while computed tomography (CT) examination, out-patient services in general medicine, gastroenterology, dermatology and clinical nutrition have been provided gradually since March.
According to Ao Ieong, among the three pricing schemes, local patients eligible for free public health services will also enjoy free services at the Cotai hospital after referral by the Health Bureau (SSM), based on the first pricing model.
In the second pricing model, 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, while for non-resident workers (NRWs), non-local students and other special stay permit holders, fees will be charged “at the normal rate”.
According to the policy secretary, the third pricing model 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. However, she said, a discount for local residents would also be considered.
The policy secretary underlined that referrals can only be made if the respective service is available at the Cotai hospital, which will not be made at the patient’s request, but will be assigned by the system.
The policy secretary also said that the first phase of filling vacancies at the hospital has finished, adding that five specialists started to work in the Cotai hospital yesterday.
As of last Thursday, there were a total of 179 healthcare workers at the Cotai hospital complex, of which 51 were sent from the Peking Union Medical College Hospital and 18 were seconded by the Health Bureau (SSM), Ao Ieong said, adding that the hospital has been recruiting on a regular basis, with the expectation that there will be more than 400 healthcare workers by the end of the year, and more than 700 by the end of next year.
