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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 31, 1982
RECIPROCAL HEALTH CARE ARRANGEMENT WITH UK
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HONG KONG VISITORS TO BRITAIN, INCLUDING STUDENTS, WILL CONTINUE TO BE PROVIDED WITH ALL IMMEDIATE NECESSARY MÉDICAL TREATMENT ON THE SAME TERMS AS LOCAL RESIDENTS UNDER THE NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE, UNDER A RECIPROCAL HEALTH CARE ARRANGEMENT BETWEEN THE HONG KONG AND UK GOVERNMENTS.
THE RECIPROCAL ARRANGEMENT WILL COME INTO EFFECT TOMORROW (APRIL 1, 1982), A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY.
THE UK GOVERNMENT HAS RECENTLY ANNOUNCED THAT REGULATIONS COVERING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF CHARGES FOR NHS TREATMENT FOR OVERSEAS VISITORS WILL BE LAID BEFORE PARLIAMENT AROUND EASTER TO COME INTO EFFECT ON OCTOBER 1, 1982.
IN FUTURE, FREE TREATMENT FOR VISITORS WILL BE RESTRICTED TO OUTPATIENT TREATMENT IN +ACCIDENT AND EMERGENCY+ AND +CASUALTY+ DEPARTMENTS, THE TREATMENT OF COMMUNICABLE (INCLUDING SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASE AND PSYCHIATRIC CARE FOR PATIENTS WHO ARE COMPULSORILY DETAINED.
SUBJECT TO CERTAIN EXEMPTIONS, CHARGES WILL BE LEVIED ON PERSONS NOT ORDINARILY RESIDENT IN THE UK FOR ALL OTHER NHS HOSPITAL TREATMENT.
AMONG THOSE EXEMPTED FROM THE NEW CHARGES ARE VISITORS, INCLUDING STUDENTS, WHO HAVE BEEN IN THE UNITED KINGDOM FOR ONE YEAR (INSTEAD OF A 3-YEAR QUALIFYING PERIOD EARLIER PROPOSED) AND PEOPLE FROM COUNTRIES OR TERRITORIES WITH WHOM THE UK HAS RECIPROCAL AGREEMENTS.
THE PRESENT RECIPROCAL ARRANGEMENT BETWEEN HONG KONG AND THE UK IS THE OUTCOME OF A VISIT TO LONDON LAST APRIL BY A HONG KONG TEAM COMPRISING REPRESENTATIVES OF THE SOCIAL SERVICES BRANCH AND THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND LED BY SIR JACK CATER, AND SUBSEQUENT CONSULTATION WITH THE UK DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND SOCIAL SECURITY.
+HONG KONG VISITORS, IN ESTABLISHING THEIR ELIGIBILITY FOR TREATMENT, WILL BE EXPECTED TO PRODUCE A VALID IDENTITY CARD, PASSPORT OR CERTIFICATE OF IDENTITY ISSUED BY THE HONG KONG IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT.
+THE RECIPROCAL ARRANGEMENT WILL NOT APPLY TO PERSONS WHO GO TO EACH OTHER'S TERRITORY FOR THE EXPRESS PURPOSE OF OBTAINING MEDICAL TREATMENT, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
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